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Slips  for  Librarians  to  paste  on  Catalogue 
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N.  B, — Take  out  carefully,  leaving  about  quarter  of  an 
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release  other  leaves. 

ANDERSON,  EDWARD  L.  On  Horseback  :  In 
THE  School  and  on  the  Road.  By  Edward 
L.  Anderson.  New  York  :  Henry  Holt  & 
Co.,  1882.     i2mo,  pp.  218. 

ON  HORSEBACK :  In  the  School  and  on  the 
Road,  By  Edward  L.  Anderson.  New 
York  :  Henry  Holt  &  Co.,  1882.  i2mo,  pp. 
218. 

HORSE.  On  Horseback  :  In  the  School  and 
on  the  Road.  By  Edward  L.  Anderson. 
New  York  :  Henry  Holt  &  Co.,  1882.  i2mo, 
pp.  218. 

SPORTS.  On  Horseback  :  In  the  School  and 
ON  the  Road.  By  Edward  L.  Anderson. 
New  York  :  Henry  Holt  &  Co.,  1882-  i2mo, 
pp.  218. 


ON    HORSEBACK 


IN  THE  SCHOOL  AND  ON  THE  ROAD 


BY 

EDWARD  L.  ANDERSON 

AUTHOR  OF 

•*HOW  TO   RIDE,"  AND   OF    "  A   SYSTEM   OF   SCHOOL   RIDING 
FOR   HORSES." 


NEW  YORK 

HENRY    HOLT    &    COMPANY 

1882 


Copyright,  1882, 

By 

Henry  Holt  &  Co. 


PREFACE. 


This  book  is  a  welding  together,  re-arrange- 
ment and  partial  re-writing  of  two  predeces- 
sors. I  published  the  first,  "  How  to  Ride,"  in 
London,  during  a  temporary  residence  abroad. 
It  was  my  intention  to  bring  out  an  edition  of 
it  in  this  country,  but  I  was  prevented  doing 
so  by  the  action  of  the  Orange  Judd  Company, 
which  issued  my  book  in  a  mutilated  form, 
incorporated  with  matter  by  some  other  hand, 
under  the  title  of  "Riding  and  Training  Sad- 
dle Horses." 

The  second  book,  called  "A  System  of 
School  Training  for  Horses"  (about  to  appear 
in  London),  which  was  intended  as  a  sequel  to 

[3] 


4  PREFACE. 

its  predecessor,  would  prove  too  technical  for 
readers  who  have  not  had  the  instructions  of 
the  primary  work,  and  as  the  unauthorized 
edition  was  neither  complete  nor  credited  to 
me,  I  have  thought  best  to  meet  the  case  by 
the  complete  re-arrangement  offered  herewith. 
In  these  pages  I  have  not  only  endeavored 
to  render  my  meaning  clear  by  full  explana- 
tions of  the  theories  advanced,  but  have  also 
incorporated  in  the  index  a  glossary  of  terms 
used. 

Cincinnati,  March  25,   1882. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGB 

Preface 3 

Introduction 7 


PART  I. 
ON  THE  ROAD. 

CHAPTER 

I.     How  TO  USE  A  Horse 21 

II.     Equipments 26 

Bits  and  Martingales 27 

III.  Getting  into  Place 31 

To  Mount 31 

The  Seat 34 

The  Reins 39 

IV.  Horse  Gymnastics 41 

Exercises  for  the  Seat 43 

For  the  Balance 45 , 

For  the  Legs  and  Feet 47 

To  Mount 48 

To  Dismount 50 

General  Exercises 51 

[5] 


6  CONTENTS, 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

V,     Hands  AND  Legs 53 

VI.    The  Walk  and  the  Trot 63 

VII.     The  Gallop 69 

VIII.    Leaping 72 

IX.    Vices,  Tricks,  and  Faults 77 


PART  II. 


IN  THE  SCHOOL. 

I.  The  Equilibrium 86 

II.  Suppling  the  Forehand 9 

III.  Suppling  THE  Croup 112 

IV.  To  Back 121 

V.     The  Passage 129 

VI.     The  Piaffer 132 

VII.    To  Back  at  the  Piaffer 136 

VIII.     Changes  in  the  Gallop 139 

IX.    To  Halt  in  the  Gallop 147 

X.     The  Gallop  IN  Place 150 

XL    To  Back  at  the  Gallop 154 

Xn.    The  Spanish  Trot 158 

XIII.  Traversing  IN  the  Passage 165 

XIV.  Traversing  AT  THE  Gallop 172 

XV.     Voltes  and  Pirouettes 176 

XVI.     Teaching  TO  Leap 183 

XVn.     General  Notes 197 

XVIII.    When  Ladies  Ride 208 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  fit  that  I  should  offer  some  ex- 
planation for  advocating  the  school  sys- 
tem of  training,  since  it  is  generally  re- 
garded as  something  fanciful  and  useless, 
if  not  positively  mischievous. 

First,  a  few  words  concerning  the  im- 
portance of  a  thorough  method  in  the 
training  of  horses  for  the  saddle,  and 
then  I  shall  answer,  as  far  as  I  am  able, 
the  objections  that  are  raised  against  the 
systems  of  the  schools. 

Whether  it  be  in  the  field,  upon  the 

[7] 


8  INTRODUCTIOJV. 

road,  or  in  the  troop,  the  rider  must  fol- 
low some  sort  of  method  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  horse. 

Every  horse  that  can  be  ridden  is  to 
some  extent  schooled,  as  we  understand 
It  in  the  manage,  and  the  more  amenable 
he  is  to  the  will  of  the  rider  the  more 
nearly  the  object  of  every  system  of  the 
schools  has  been  obtained,  no  matter 
whether  his  trainer  knew  or  was  ignorant 
of  what  he  was  effecting  or  how  it  was 
brought  about. 

Teaching  the  horse  to  turn  to  the 
right  or  to  the  left,  driving  him  forward 
with  the  heels,  and  measuring  his  speed 
and  perfecting  his  paces,  are  things  that 
every  rider  endeavors  to  accomplish,  and 
these  are,  all  of  them,  primary  principles 
of  the  schools. 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

Is  it  not  well  to  go  further,  and  to 
teach  the  horse  a  ready  and  precise  obedi- 
ence to  the  every  wish  of  his  rider? 
For  the  object  of  school  methods  is 
simply  to  acquire  control  over  the  horse 
under  all  circumstances,  and  the  various 
movements  practiced  are  for  the  purpose 
of  rendering  him  quick  and  willing  to 
answer  the  demands  of  his  rider. 

As  to  the  uselessness  of  this  training 
and  its  results,  where  shall  the  line  be 
drawn  between  the  highly-trained  charger 
and  the  awkward,  stubborn  colt  ?  It  may 
not  be  necessary  for  the  gentleman  who 
follows  the  hounds  or  takes  a  ride  in  the 
park,  to  move  about  at  the  traverse  or  to 
exhibit  the  action  of  his  horse  in  the 
Spanish  trot,  but  if  he  can  make  his  horse 
perform  these   movements    he  will    have 


10  INTRODUCTION, 

an  animal  that  is  the  safer  and  pleasanter 
to  ride,  by  reason  of  his  lightness  and 
obedience. 

Nor  do  I  see  any  grounds  for  the 
principal  objection  against  school  train- 
ing, that  it  decreases  the  speed  of  the 
horse.  It  is  true  that  In  the  balanced 
movements  of  the  manege  the  horse  is 
made  to  step  short,  both  to  retain  the 
balance  in  the  direct  line  and  to  enable 
the  animal  to  make  short  and  sudden 
changes  of  direction.  But  to  enable  a 
horse  to  carry  himself  in  the  equilibrium 
of  the  school  his  every  muscle  must  be 
suppled  and  strengthened,  and  I  hold  that 
it  is  self-evident  that  when  the  horse  is 
permitted  to  extend  himself  his  speed 
would  be  the  greater  and  his  going  the 
stronorer   for    his    tralnlnor.      This  Is  evi- 


IN  TROD  UCTION.  \  \ 

denced,  too,  in  the  buck-jumps  and  the 
other  high  movements  of  the  manage.  In 
the  limited  area  of  the  riding-school,  the 
trained  horse  will  take  leaps  that  would 
do  credit  to  the  most  active  hunter,  while 
the  latter  would  not  find  room  to  turn  in 
his  lumbering  gallop.  Why  this  supple- 
ness and  strength  should  decrease  the 
natural  speed  of  the  horse  I  cannot  con- 
ceive, and  I  think  that  the  idea  originated 
in  the  belief  that  the  short  step  of  the 
balanced  horse  is  the  natural  result  of  a 
cramped  training-ground,  and  not,  as  is 
the  fact,  purposely  brought  about  by 
strengthening  and  suppling  the  animal, 
so  that  he  may  carry  himself  lightly. 

It  should  be  observed  that  in  modern 
school-riding,  the  forces  of  the  horse  are 
brought  into  balance,  so  that  no  undue 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

weight  falls  upon  either  extremity.  Thus 
another  objection  to  the  system  is  ground- 
less. 

To  kick  a  horse  along  and  to  pull  him 
to  the  right  or  to  the  left  by  sheer  force, 
is,-  to  a  certain  extent,  riding,  and  I  sup- 
pose will  satisfy  the  requirements  of  most 
horsemen,  but  it  is  not  the  highest  stand- 
ard of  horsemanship,  and  the  more  it  is 
improved  upon  the  better  for  the  horse 
and  his  rider. 

I  think  that  it  Is  a  mistake  to  place 
children  of  tender  age  upon  horseback,  for 
there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  In  such  a 
course  that  will  compensate  for  the  risk 
of  injuries  they  may  receive.  An  active 
man  may  learn  to  ride  well  at  any  age  ; 
and  a  bold  boy  of  fourteen,  who  compre- 
hends the  system  upon  which  he  is  taught, 


INTRODUCTION. 


n 


will  in  six  months  become  a  better  horse- 
man than  the  lad  who  has  been  riding  six 
years  according  to  his  own  ideas.  It  is  not 
given  to  all  men  to  excel  in  riding ;  courage, 
activity,  a  perfect  temper,  and  aptitude  for 
the  exercise  are  requisite  for  the  acquire- 
ment of  the  highest  skill.  But  a  knowl- 
edge of  a  proper  method  will  give  to 
every  one  comparative  immunity  from  the 
dangers  that  attend  horsemanship.  A 
schooled  horse,  confiding  in  his  master 
and  obedient  to  the  spur,  is  not  apt  to  try 
his  powers  in  rebellion  ;  and  when  in  hand 
and  properly  gathered  he  will  recover 
from  a  mistake  that  might  otherwise  prove 
disastrous. 

It  is  not  necessary  that  every  man 
should  learn  or  that  every  horse  should  be 
taught  all  the  movements  of  the  mandge. 


14 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  will  be  enough  for  all  practical  purposes 
of  ordinary  riding  If  the  horse  carries  him- 
self in  equilibrium  and  obeys  the  indica- 
tions of  the  hand  and  legs,  and  the  rider 
has  a  seat  that  permits  him  to  make  a 
measured  use  of  the  aids  under  every  cir- 
cumstance of  motion  and  action.  But  that 
which  remains  to  make  a  thorough  horse- 
man and  a  schooled  horse  Is  so  little,  that 
I  have  here  given  a  method  for  those 
movements  of  the  inandge  that  have  been 
found  most  useful  In  giving  the  horse  con- 
trol of  his  powers  and  in  making  him 
obedient  to  the  will  of  his  rider. 

There  can  be  no  objection  to  a  rider 
becoming  skillful  in  the  management  of  his 
horse,  or  to  the  horse  being  rendered  obe- 
dient to  his  master's  wishes.  A  perfectly 
schooled  horse  Is  a  horse  perfectly  fitted 


INTRODUCTION. 


15 


for  any  use ;  and  a  rider  who  has  a  seat 
that  permits  him  to  apply  the  aids  in  the 
vigorous  movements  of  the  mandge  is  pre- 
pared for  any  emergency,  upon  the  road  or 
in  the  field. 

There  are  those  who  hold  the  opinion 
that  no  one  can  learn  to  ride  from  the  rules 
laid  down  in  books.  How  is  one  to  learn 
to  ride  ?  From  the  first  there  is  little  that 
the  beginner  must  not  learn,  from  rule  or 
from  example,  and,  according  to  his  apti- 
tude for  the  exercise,  he  improves  in  skill 
by  practicing  that  which  he  has  acquired 
by  observation  or  through  instruction. 
The  general  rules  of  the  art  are  the  results 
of  ages  of  experiment,  and  it  is  doubtful 
whether  a  man  would  ever,  by  his  unaided 
efforts,  reach  any  great  proficiency  in  rid- 
ing.    One  may  consider  himself  to  be  self- 


l6  INTRODUCTION. 

taught ;  but  the  fact  is  that  nearly  every- 
thing he  knows  about  riding  is  derived 
from  imitatinor  those  who  have  in  some 
way  gained  a  knowledge  of  proper  usages, 
and  afterwards  by  deducing  natural  se- 
quences from  these  established  rules. 

If  the  pupil  is  fortunate  enough  to 
have  the  personal  instruction  of  a  skilled 
master,  he  will,  perhaps,  learn  more  rapidly 
than  by  following  the  precepts  of  a  book. 
But  he  is  much  more  apt  to  find  a  proper 
system  in  some  work  that  has  received  the 
approbation  of  the  authorities  upon  the 
subject  than  in  the  instruction  he  receives 
from  grooms  and  self-styled  masters.  The 
instructions  given  to  the  recruits  in  the 
military  riding-schools  are,  for  the  greater 
part,  a  repetition  by  the  instructor  of  the 
printed  rules,  which  he  must  learn  by  rote. 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

I  have  known  m^iny  good  riders  who  owed 
all  they  knew  in  the  art  to  a  study  of  the 
intricate  laws  laid  down  by  Baucher.  I 
have  many  times  taught  movements  to 
horses  by  following  the  directions  of  com- 
petent writers,  and  I  have  never  failed  in 
accomplishing  that  which  I  undertook. 

I  wrote  How  to  Ride,  and  I  write  this 
work,  from  a  love  of  my  subject,  and  be- 
cause I  am  convinced  that  a  pupil  may 
learn  to  ride  and  to  school  a  horse  from 
books. 

While  I  do  not  think  that  this  book  can 
in  any  sense  be  considered  a  compilation, 
I  wish  to  say  that  I  have  studied  the  works 
of  nearly  all  the  modern  writers  upon  my 
subject  and  have  had  instruction  from 
several  professional  school-riders ;  but  I 
have   also   had   the   experience   of  many 


1 3  INTRODUCTION. 

years  in  training  my  own  horses,  and  I  be- 
lieve that  in  every  chapter  I  have  present- 
ed original  ideas,  not  inconsistent,  I  hope, 
with  proved  methods. 


PART     I 


ON     THE     ROAD 


CHAPTER     I. 

HOW   TO    USE   A    HORSE. 

The  whip  and  the  spur  are  necessary 
aids  in  the  education  of  the  horse,  and 
in  compelling  his  obedience  after  he 
has  been  trained.  The  whip  should  be 
seldom  used  to  inflict  punishment,  the 
spurs  never.  For  instance,  if  a  horse 
rears,  the  spurs  must  be  employed  to 
force  the  action  of  the  hind-quarters,  and 
so  to  drive  him  forward ;  but  having 
brought  about  that  result,  they  must  not 
be  thrust  into  him  to  punish  him  for 
rearing.     The  horse  is  to  be  taught  that 

[21] 


22  HOW    TO     USE    A     HORSE. 

the  spur  is  applied  to  make  him  bring 
certain  forces  into  action,  and  when  used 
with  discretion  he  will  respond  to  it ;  but 
unnecessary  strokes  with  the  spur  will 
rouse  his  resentment,  and  he  will  stub- 
bornly refuse  to  obey  its  indications.  It 
serves  no  good  purpose  to  irritate  a 
horse,  as  he  will  never  yield  while  angry. 
A  contest  between  horse  and  rider  should 
always  be  avoided,  for,  in  addition  to  the 
chances  that  the  former  will  prove  the 
victor,  a  high-spirited  animal  may  be 
made  incurably  vicious,  when  by  milder 
treatment  he  could  be  subdued  without 
endangering  his  usefulness.  A  rebuke 
in  a  harsh  tone  of  voice  will  generally 
suffice  to  correct  a  horse,  and  he  will  not 
know  how  to  resent  it.  The  best  way 
to  control  the  horse  is  through  firmness 


no  IV    TO     USE    A     HORSE, 


23 


and  kindness,  but  timidity  Is  worse  than 
severity  In  Inducing  vice. 

The  young  horse  soon  becomes  tract- 
able, and  as  long  as  his  temper  Is  un- 
ruffled he  desires  to  do  that  which  is 
required  of  him.  Until  the  spirit  of 
rebellion  is  awakened,  he  is  as  anxious 
to  avoid  the  perils  of  battle  as  his  master 
should  be.  If  upon  an  occasion  he  de- 
clines to  perform  some  movement  that  is 
required  of  him,  let  his  attention  be  turned 
to  that  which  will  please  him,  and  his  obe- 
dience In  this  will  Induce  his  obedience 
afterwards  to  the  first  demand.  To  give 
up  to  him  after  a  battle  will  confirm  his 
obstinacy,  but  he  will  soon  forget  his 
unnoticed  defiance.  Under  proper  treat- 
ment he  vv^ill  in  time  yield  to  the  will  of 
his  master  w^Ithout  dreaming  of  resistance. 


24  ^OIV    TO     USE    A     HORSE. 


The  story  of  Tarleton  taming  his 
savage  steed  with  bloody  spurs,  and  the 
vivid  descriptions  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  Mexican  breaks  the  spirit  of  the  mus- 
tang, may  pass  to  adorn  the  pages  of 
a  romance,  or  to  heighten  the  interest  of 
a  travelers  tale.  But,  aside  from  the 
cruelty  and  peril  of  such  methods,  there 
remains  the  fact  that  horses  so  broken 
submit  for  the  time  only,  and  the  struggle 
is  to  be  repeated  more  or  less  often. 
Except  in  those  rare  cases  of  horses 
naturally  vicious,  and  they  are  lunatics, 
fear  is  the  mastering  passion  of  the  horse. 
It  is  cowardice  that  drives  him  to  despe- 
rate resistance  against  the  sway  of  his 
master ;  the  effort  that  is  successful  in 
ridding  him  of  his  tyrant  suggests  his 
favorite  vice. 


HO  IV    TO     USE    A    HORSE. 


25 


I  do  not,  in  these  remarks,  have  refer- 
ence to  those  tricks  that  a  horse  acquires 
through  the  inexperience  or  the  timidity 
of  a  rider,  for,  like  all  cowards,  the  horse 
loves  to  play  the  bully.  As  he  will  seldom 
take  the  liberty  of  practicing  these  upon  a 
resolute  man,  it  is  not  necessary  to  point 
out  to  his  victims  what  course  to  pursue. 

If  the  horse  is  taught  to  calm  his  fears 
at  the  sound  of  the  voice  of  man — if  he 
is  never  ill-treated,  in  or  out  of  the  stable 
— if  he  does  not  perceive  timidity  upon 
the  part  of  his  masters,  and  if,  with  all 
these  conditions,  he  is  given  plenty  of  air 
and  exercise,  he  will  never  show  vice. 


CHAPTER  II. 

EQUIPMENTS. 

The  Saddle, 

The  tree,  of  the  pattern  known  to  the 
world  as  the  English  saddle,  should  be  se- 
lected and  covered  to  permit  the  rider, 
with  his  peculiarities  of  figure,  taking  an 
erect  position  from  his  buttocks.  It  must 
be  large  enough.  A  saddle  that  is  too 
short  prohibits  a  proper  seat,  but  the  rider 
may  be  comfortable  in  a  saddle  that  is 
larger  than  is  absolutely  required. 

The  panel  should  be  stuffed  to  fit  the 
horse  when  the  saddle  is  placed  as  far  for- 

[26] 


EQUIPMENTS.  27 

ward  as  will  admit  of  the  free  use  of  the 
shoulders. 

The  stirrups  should  be  roomy,  with  a 
broad  tread,  and  of  medium  weight.  The 
holes  of  the  leathers  should  be  punched 
to  correspond,  and  numbered.  The  leath- 
ers should  be  attached  to  the  saddle  by  a 
spring-bar;  the  bar  that  works  upon  a 
hinge  is  the  best. 

Bits  and  Martingales, 

There  is  no  combination-bit  that  will 
supply  the  place  of  the  "curb  and  snaffle" 
of  the  double  bridle.  The  effects  of  both 
of  these  are  required  in  schooling  and  in 
riding  the  horse.  And,  although  they  are 
never  to  be  used  simultaneously,  the  action 
of  one  must  often  follow  that  of  the  other 


28  EQUIPMENTS. 

in  a  manner  that  precludes  the  substitution 
of  a  single  bit. 

The  snaffle  should  be  buckled  to  the 
under  check-pieces  of  the  bridle,  so  that  it 
will  He  up  in  the  corners  of  the  mouth 
without  pressure. 

The  mouth-piece  of  the  curb  should  be 
of  proper  width.  It  is  to  rest  upon  the 
bars  of  the  mouth  ;  for  which  reason  the 
port  should  be  of  a  size  to  hold  the  tongue, 
but  it  must  not  be  high  enough  to  torture 
the  horse.  The  cheek-pieces  should  be  from 
one  and  a-half  to  one  and  three-quarters 
inches  in  length  from  the  center  of  the 
mouth-piece  to  the  fastening  of  the  curb- 
chain  hook.  The  branches  should  be  from 
four  and  a-half  to  five  inches  in  length, 
according  to  the  power  required. 

The  curb  chain  should  hang  loosely  in 


EQUIPMENTS. 


29 


the  groove  of  the  chin,  and  Its  width 
should  depend  upon  the  size  of  the 
groove. 

When  the  bits  have  been  fitted,  and 
the  horse  has  become  accustomed  to 
them,  they  should  not  be  shifted. 

There  is  little  to  be  said  in  favor  of 
martingales.  The  martingale  tends  to 
keep  the  snaffle  in  place  upon  a  young  or 
a  tender-mouthed  horse,  who  throws  up 

his  head  to  a  heavy  hand ;  but  its  inter- 

-t 

vention  denies  that  delicate  tension  on  the 
mouth  that  we  are  seeking ;  and  it  will  not 
cure,  although  it  may  restrain,  the  habit 
that  seems  to  demand  its  use.  The  stand- 
ing martingale,  buckled  into  the  bit,  is  a 
cruel  instrument  that  may  throw  the  horse. 
The  least  objectionable  of  all  the  martin- 
gales is  that  attached  to  a  nose-band.     But 


30  EQUIPMENTS. 

this,  to  be  of  any  service,  confines  the 
head  of  the  horse  too  much  for  him  to 
make  the  necessary  efforts  to  recover  from 
a  mistake.  None  of  these  contrivances 
will  prevent  a  horse  rearing,  and  the  last- 
named  will  answer  all  the  purposes  that 
the  others  may. 

I  believe  that  every  horse  is  suscepti- 
ble of  being  taught  to  carry  his  head  in 
position,  and  I  shall  endeavor  to  show 
how  this  end  may  be  brought  about. 


CHAPTER  III. 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE. 


To  Mount, 

Facing  the  near  side  of  the  horse, 
stand  opposite  his  girth ;  take  the  reins  in 
the  right  hand,  and  with  it  grasp  the  pom- 
mel of  the  saddle,  shortening  the  reins  un- 
til you  feel  the  mouth  of  the  horse. 

Hold  the  stirrup  with  the  left  hand, 
and  insert  the  left  foot ;  seize  a  lock  of  the 
mane  in  the  left  hand,  close  to  the  crest  of 
the  neck,  turning  the  thumb  uppermost. 

Rise   in   the   stirrup,    aided    by   both 

hands,  until  the  left  leg  is  straightened ; 

[31] 


32 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE. 


carry  over  the  right  leg,  and  sink  Into  the 
saddle. 

Whe7i  the  seat  is  obtained  release  the 
holds  upon  the  mane  and  pommel,  and 
pass  the  reins  into  the  left  hand. 

After  the  left  hand  has  seized  the 
mane  the  horse  cannot  prevent  the  rider 
reaching  his  seat ;  and  the  rider  firmly  es- 
tablishes himself  before  he  withdraws  the 
support  of  either  hand. 

There  is  no  difficulty,  for  one  who  is 
not  infirm,  to  mount  in  this  way,  and  the 
only  objection  that  can  be  made  to  it,  so 
far  as  I  can  see,  is  that  by  a  "  cow-kick  " 
the  man  standing  at  the  girth  may  receive 
an  injury.  But  this  is  a  rare  vice,  and  a 
horse  that  kicks  is  dangerous  to  approach, 
for  mounting  or  for  any  other  purpose  ;  so 
that  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  abandon  a 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE. 


33 


system  that  is  otherwise  excellent,  because 
it  does  not  apply  to  a  very  small  class  of 
vicious  brutes,  that  should  not  be  used  for 
saddle  under  any  circumstances. 

On  the  other  hand,  nearly  every  horse 
will  paw  with  a  fore-foot,  if  at  all  impa- 
tient, and  he  who  stands  in  front  of  the 
shoulder  of  a  horse  is  not  secure  from  in- 
jury. Among  the  other  disadvantages  of 
the  generally  adopted  method  I  may  men- 
tion the  following  : — 

1.  The  rider,  standing  in  front  of  the 
shoulder  of  the  horse,  may  be  overset 
by  a  forward  movement ;  and  this  dan- 
ger is  greatly  increased  after  the  foot 
is  put  into  the  stirrup. 

2.  The  left  hand,  entangled  and  held  in 

the  hairs  of  the  mane,  cannot  use  the 
reins. 

3 


34 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE. 


3.  The  drag  upon  the  cantle  of  the  saddle 
must,  in  all  cases,  disturb  Its  position, 
and  may  cause  It  to  turn. 

4.  The  right  arm  fastened  to  the  cantle  of 
the  saddle  prevents  the  right  leg  pass- 
ing over  the  back  of  the  horse. 

5.  To  pass  the  right  leg  over  the  horse 
the  right  arm  must  be  removed  ;  thus 
taking  away  the  principal  brace  of  the 
body  at  the  most  critical  time,  and  al- 
lowing the  body,  in  case  of  any  move- 
ment, to  fall  backwards  towards  the 
shoulder  of  the  horse. 

6.  The  absence  of  a  reason  for  any  one 
motion  in  the  method. 

The  Seat. 
Upon  the  seat  depends  the  security  of 
the  rider,  not  only  as  regards  his  remain- 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE, 


35 


ing  upon  the  horse,  but  in  permitting  hina 
to  use  that  Hghtness  and  deHcacy  of  touch 
that  is  required  to  manage  and  control  the 
horse.  It  has  often  been  said  that  this  de- 
sired lightness  of  touch  is  a  rare  gift, 
wholly  denied  to  strong  men.  But  if  a 
man  have  a  seat  that  is  independent  of  any 
support  from  the  reins,  he  may  acquire  a 
light  touch  upon  the  mouth  of  the  horse  as 
readily  as  he  may  make  a  fine  stroke  with 
a  pen. 

As  I  have  said,  each  man  has  a  seat 
peculiar  to  himself,  and  that  will  be  his 
seat  for  all  purposes,  whether  in  the  field, 
upon  the  road,  or  in  the  school. 

It  will  be  obtained  in  the  following 
manner  : — 

After  having  reached  the  saddle,  dis- 
engage the  left  foot  from  the  stirrup.  Then 


36  GETTING    INTO    PLACE. 

bearing  the  weight  of  the  body  upon  the 
buttocks,  make  the  inner  sides  of  the  thigh, 
from  the  knee  up,  grasp  the  saddle.  The 
body  must  be  held  erect,  the  shoulders 
thrown  back,  and  the  chin  drawn  in ;  and 
the  elbows  should  be  carried  close  to  the 
sides. 

The  legs,  from  the  knee  down,  should 
hang  without  stiffness,  and  the  feet  will, 
without  effort,  find  their  proper  place, 
parallel  with  the  body  of  the  horse. 

The  length  of  stirrup-leather  will  be 
found  when  the  tread  of  the  iron  strikes 
the  heel  of  the  boot  immediately  above  the 
junction  of  the  sole.  The  toes  will  be 
raised  and  inserted  in  the  stirrups  as  far  as 
the  balls  of  the  feet. 

The  stability  of  the  seat  is  dependent 
upon  the  zveight  of  the  body,  the  balci7ice, 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE. 


37 


and  \}ci^  grasp  of  the  thighs.  The  erect 
seat  upon  the  breech,  that  we  have  de- 
scribed, permits  the  body  to  make,  most 
readily,  those  motions  that  are  necessary 
for  preserving  the  perpendicular  appHca- 
tion  of  the  weight,  and  for  keeping  the 
balance.  The  strongest  hold  upon  the 
saddle  possible  is  with  the  inside  of  the 
thighs. 

There  should  be  no  pressure  upon  the 
stirrups  ;  for  this  would  relieve  the  weight, 
•disturb  the  balance,  and  force  the  grip  of 
the  thighs.  It  is  no  argument  in  favor  of 
riding  upon  the  stirrups  that  the  horsemen 
of  the  East  carry  their  knees  up  to  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle,  for  the  Mexicans, 
who  are  better  riders,  extend  the  leg  to  its 
full  length. 

It   is   in  spite   of    bad     systems   that 


38 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE. 


these  peoples  who  live  on  horseback  be- 
come skillful  in  the  management  of  their 
steeds.  Because  a  circus  performer  stand- 
ing upon  one  leg  keeps  his  horse  under 
circumstances  that  would  prevent  a  poor 
rider  from  keeping  in  his  saddle,  it  does 
not  follow  that  the  proper  way  to  ride  is 
upon  one  leg. 

The  seat  having  been  found  and  the 
stirrups  having  been  adjusted,  no  changes 
should  be  made  for  the  different  circum- 
stances under  which  the  rider  will  be  called 
upon  to  exercise  his  skill.  It  is  bad  art 
when  the  principles  are  not  suited  to  every 
emergency ;  and  the  seat  that  has  been 
found  to  be  that  in  which  the  center  of 
gravity  can  best  be  preserved  in  the  high 
airs  of  the  mandgey  where  the  horse  makes 
the  most  violent  movements  of  the  fore- 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE.  3^ 


hand  and  of  the  croup,  should  answer  all 
requirements. 

The  Reins, 

The  beginner  will  use  the  reins  of  the 
snaffle  only.  He  will  take  a  rein  in  the 
grasp  of  each  hand,  the  loose  end  passing 
under  and  held  by  the  thumb,  at  a  length 
that  will  give  him  command  of  the  mouth 
of  the  horse. 

In  teaching  the  horse  the  changes  of 
direction,  as  Is  described  in  the  chapter 
upon  "  Hands  and  Legs,"  one  hahd  will 
hold  the  curb,  the  reins  divided  by  the 
little  finger  and  grasped  by  the  thumb ; 
while  the  snaffle-reins  will  be  held  above 
those  of  the  curb,  divided  by  the  breadth 
of  the  other  hand. 

There    are   various    ways    prescribed 


40 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE. 


for  holding  the  reins  in  riding  the  trained 
horses,  but  I  prefer  the  following 
method  : — 

In  the  left  hand  :  the  curb-reins 
divided  by  the  little  finger  ;  the  snaffle- 
reins  divided  by  the  middle  finger  ;  the 
ends  of  both  sets  carried  up  through  the 
hand  and  secured  by  the  thumb,  which 
should  be  uppermost  and  pointed  to  the 
ears  of  the  horse.  By  bending  the  wrist 
to  the  right  so  that  the  knuckles  come 
uppermost,  the  head  of  the  horse  will  be 
carried  to  the  right,  and  the  change  made 
in  that  direction.  By  bending  the  wrist 
to  the  left,  so  that  the  finger-nails  come 
uppermost,  the  horse  will  be  turned  to 
the  left.  There  should  never  be  tension 
upon  the  two  bits  at  the  same  time.  The 
horse  should  be  ridden  upon    the  curb; 


GETTING    INTO    PLACE.  41 


the  snaffle  will  be  used  to  fix  the  height 
of  his  head,  and,  occasionally,  to  take  the 
place  of  the  curb  to  freshen  the  mouth. 

The  right  hand  will  be  carried  upon 
the  loose  ends  of  the  reins  to  assist  the 
left. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

HORSE     GYMNASTICS. 

The  following  exercises  will  be  found 
of  great  service  in  giving  strength  to 
the  seat,  in  aiding  the  balance,  In  teach- 
ing the  habit  of  regaining  a  lost  position 
without  disturbing  the  tension  of  the 
reins,  and  in  giving  ease  and  grace  to  all 
the  motions  of  the  rider. 

When  so  Indicated,  these  movements 
will  be  made  from  the  position  prescribed 
for  "  the  seat." 
[42] 


HORSE    GYMNASTICS.  43 


Exercises  for  the  Seat, 

I. 

In  the  seat,  with  the  arm  hanging 
motionless  by  his  side,  let  the  pupil  take 
away  one  thigh  from  contact  with  the 
saddle  and  bring  it  back  into  its  place, 
with  the  point  of  the  knee  turned  in  as 
much  as  possible,  the  movement  being 
made  by  a  rotation  of  the  hip  joint. 
This  should  then  be  done  with  the  other 
leg. 

II. 

From  the  seat,  and  the  rest  of  the 
body  in  quiet,  raise  both  knees  to  meet 
above   the  pommel   of    the  saddle,   and 


44  HORSE    GYMNASTICS. 


bring  them  back  to  the  saddle,  making 
the  inner  sides  of  the  thighs  take  as  many 
points  of  contact  as  possible. 

III. 

In  the  seat,  keeping  the  thighs  close 
to  the  saddle,  let  the  pupil  lean  back  until 
his  shoulders  touch  the  rump  of  the 
horse  ;  then  let  him  quietly  recover  his 
erect  position. 

IV. 

In  the  seat,  keeping  the  buttocks  in 
the  saddle  and  the  thighs  in  place,  let 
the  pupil  lean  forward  and  slightly  to  one 
side  until  one  of  his  shoulders  touches 
the  crest  of  the  horse.  Then  let  him 
slowly  recover  his  position. 


HORSE    GYMNASTICS. 


45 


V. 

In  the  seat,  let  the  body  sway  forward, 
to  one  side,  to  the  rear,  to  the  other 
side,  and  then  Into  position ;  then  reverse 
the  movement. 

VI. 

Lose  the  seat  to  the  right,  and  without 
aid  from  the  hands  bring  the  body  back 
into  the  saddle  by  a  quick  turn  of  the 
buttocks ;  then  make  the  movements  to 
the  other  side.  This  should  be  practiced 
at  the  walk,  at  the  trot,  and  at  the  gallop. 

For  the  Balance, 

I. 

In  the  seat,  the  arms  hanging  without 
stiffness,    carry   the    right    leg    over   the 


46  HORSE    GYMNASTICS, 

pommel  to  the  left  side  ;  then  carry  both 
legs  over  to  the  right ;  then  come  back 
to  the  seat  by  carrying  the  left  leg  to  Its 
place. 

II. 

In  the  seat,  carry  the  right  leg  over 
the  pommel  to  the  left  side ;  then  work 
the  body  upon  the  buttocks  as  a  pivot 
until  the  face  Is  to  the  rear.  Carry  the 
left  leg  over,  then  the  right  leg,  and  work 
the  body  upon  the  buttocks  as  a  pivot 
until  the  face  Is  to  the  front.  Resume 
the  seat  by  carrying  the  left  leg  over  the 
pommel  to  Its  place ;  then  reverse  the 
movement. 


HORSE     GYMNASTICS.  47 


For  the  Legs  and  Feet, 

L 

In  the  seat,  keeping  the  knees  fixed, 
bring  the  lower  part  of  first  the  one  leg 
and  then  the  other,  as  high  up  on  the  side 
of  the  horse  as  is  possible,  without  either 
touching  the  horse  or  moving  the  knee. 
This  movement  should  be  done  at  the 
walk,  at  the  trot,  and  at  the  gallop,  so  that 
the  rider  may  have  perfect  control  of  the 
action  of  the  legs  in  directing  the  move- 
ments of  the  croup. 

II. 

In  the  seat,  the  legs  hanging  without 
stiffness  and  the  rest  of  the  body  quiet, 


48  HORSE     GYMNASTICS. 

rotate,  first  the  one  foot  and  then  the 
other,  from  the  ankle  joint,  with  an  out- 
ward and  then  an  inward  movement.  The 
improvement  in  this  exercise  may  be 
measured  by  the  facility  with  which  the 
pupil  can  gain  his  stirrups  by  the  action 
of  the  feet  only. 

To  MotmL 

Standing  at  the  shoulder  of  the  horse, 
facing  the  near  side,  with  the  left  hand 
seize  a  lock  of  the  mane  close  to  the  crest, 
the  hairs  passing  down  through  the  hand, 
the  thumb  uppermost. 

With  the  right  hand  grasp  the  pommel 
of  the  saddle,  the  fingers  under  the  tree, 
the  thumb  extended  towards  the  ground. 

Leave  the  ground  with  a  spring  and 


HORSE     GYMNASTICS.  40 


take  the  weight  of  the  body  upon  the 
arms  until  the  fork  is  level  with  the  with- 
ers of  the  horse,  resting  a  moment  in  this 
position. 

Carry  the  right  leg  over,  and  sink 
quietly  into  the  saddle. 

Release  the  holds  upon  the  mane  and 
the  pommel. 

To  those  who  have  never  tried  it,  this 
movement  appears  to  be  difficult.  It  is, 
in  fact,  very  easy,  and  should  be  accom- 
plished after  a  few  trials  by  any  one  who 
is  active  enough  to  undertake  riding.  It 
should  be  performed  at  the  walk,  at  the 
trot,  and  at  the  gallop.  At  the  gallop  care 
must  be  taken  not  to  carry  the  body  over 
too  much  in  putting  the  right  leg  across 
the  horse,  nor  need  the  body  be  carried  ^o 
4 


50 


HORSE    G  YMNA  STICS, 


high  as  when  the  horse  is  at  rest,  nor  is 
the  momentary  stop  to  be  observed. 

To  Dismount. 

Seize  the  mane  and  pommel  as  in 
mounting.  Bear  the  weight  upon  the 
straightened  arms  as  the  right  leg  is 
brought  over  to  the  left  side.  Hold  the 
body  for  a  moment  perpendicularly  to  the 
side  of  the  horse,  the  whole  weight  being 
supported  by  the  two  arms.  Drop  gently 
to  the  ground  at  the  shoulder  of  the 
horse.  This  may  be  done  at  the  gallop, 
by  avoiding  the  momentary  rest  and  com- 
ing down  prepared  to  take  a  few  steps 
with  the  horse,  after  which  the  holds  upon 
the  mane  and  pommel  should  be  released. 


HORSE    G  YMNA  STICS,  5  \ 


General  Exercises, 

I. 

From  the  seat,  grasping  each  side  of 
the  fore-part  of  the  saddle,  bear  the  weight 
of  the  body  upon  the  extended  arms,  turn- 
ing the  balanced  body  first  one  way  and 
then  the  other. 

II. 

From  the  seat,  grasping  each  side  of 
the  fore-part  of  the  saddle,  throw  the  body 
forward  upon  the  slightly  bent  arms  to- 
wards the  neck  of  the  horse ;  and  throw- 
ing up  the  legs  in  rear,  cross  them,  and 
come  into  the  saddle  faced  to  the  rear. 


52 


HORSE     GYMNASTICS. 


III. 


From  this  position,  place  the  palms  of 
the  hands  upon  the  rump  of  the  horse,  and 
performing  a  movement  similar  to  the 
above,  come  into  the  saddle  faced  to  the 
front. 


CHAPTER  V. 


HANDS   AND   LEGS. 


The  beginner  should  be  mounted  upon 
a  quiet  horse,  so  that  the  mistakes  a  young 
rider  necessarily  makes  will  not  bring 
about  disasters  that  would  destroy  all  taste 
for  the  exercise. 

The  snaffle-reins  should  at  first  be 
used,  one  held  in  each  hand,  at  a  length 
that  will  give  control  over  the  horse  with- 
out confining  the  head  of  the  animal  to 
interfere  with  his  movements. 

The  horse  will  be  induced  to  move  for- 
ward by  a  slight  pressure  of  the  riders 

[53] 


54 


HANDS    AND    LEGS. 


heels,  while  the  hands  will  yield  sufficiently 
to  permit  the  horse  to  answer  this  demand. 

As  soon  as  the  horse  moves  forward 
the  hands  will  take  a  slight  feeling  upon 
the  bit  to  measure  the  rate  of  speed,  but 
not  strong  enough  to  bring  the  horse  to  a 
halt.  Practice  only  can  show  the  rider  how 
great  this  tension  upon  the  reins  should  be, 
but  the  least  force  that  will  produce  the  de- 
sired effect  is  always  the  best. 

If  the  horse  hangs  back  or  decreases 
his  speed  the  heels  must  be  pressed  in  to 
drive  him  forward,  and  the  hands  should 
be  ready  to  increase  or  to  lessen  the  ten- 
sion upon  the  reins  as  the  circumstances 
may  dictate. 

In  turning  to  the  right  or  to  the  left, 
the  rein  of  the  side  to  which  the  change 
of  direction  is  to  be  made  will  be  drawn 


HANDS    AND    LEGS,  55 

towards  the  rider  s  body  and  the  opposite 
heel  will  be  pressed  in  to  bring  up  the  hind 
quarters  upon  the  new  line.  The  other, 
or  outside  rein  will  steady  the  horse  in  the 
movement. 

When  the  rider  desires  to  come  to  a 
halt  he  will  first  press  in  his  heels,  to  in- 
duce the  horse  to  carry  his  hind-legs  in 
under  the  body,  and  immediately  after  he 
will  raise  up  and  draw  in  both  reins  to 
check  the  forward  motion,  yielding  the 
hand  the  moment  the  horse  comes  to  a 
halt. 

The  rider  should  be  satisfied  to  prac- 
tice these  exercises  at  the  walk  until  he 
finds  that  at  that  pace  he  has  perfect  con- 
trol over  his  horse. 

When  the  rider  has  acquired  a  seat 
that  is  not  easily  disturbed,  and  has  dis- 


56  HANDS    AND    LEGS. 

covered  the  tension  of  the  reins  that  per- 
mits the  horse  to  move  freely  and  yet  con- 
trols him,  he  may  gradually  increase  the 
speed.  But  it  is  not  advisable  that  he 
should  take  a  rapid  pace  until  he  has 
learned  how  to  collect  his  horse  and  to  use 
both  hands  and  legs  with  quickness  and 
precision  at  a  moderate  speed. 

After  he  has  obtained  a  seat  that  does 
not  depend  upon  the  support  of  the  reins, 
the  rider  should  use  the  double-bridle.  The 
curb-reins  will  then  be  held  in  the  left 
hand,  divided  by  the  little  finger,  while 
above  them  the  right  hand  will  hold  the 
reins  of  the  snaffle-bit,  divided  by  its 
breadth. 

The  first  lessons  in  the  double-bridle 
will  be  given  at  the  halt.  The  hand  should 
be  held  at  such  an  elevation  as  will  permit 


HANDS    AND    LEGS. 


57 


the  horse  to  carry  his  head  at  the  height 
that  gives  him  the  greatest  comfort.  Then 
by  gentle  vibrations  of  the  curb-reins  the 
horse  will  be  induced  to  bring  his  head 
into  a  vertical  position,  and  to  yield  his 
jaw,  when  he  should  be  rewarded  by  the 
rider  making  a  corresponding  concession 
by  lessening  the  tension  on  the  bit.  When 
the  curb-reins  are  brought  into  play,  the 
rider  should  close  his  leo;s  asfainst  the  sides 
of  the  horse  to  keep  the  hind-quarter  up 
in  position  and  to  prevent  a  retrograde 
movement. 

The  horse  should  then  be  put  into  a 
walk,  and  while  the  closed  heels  of  the 
rider  keep  up  the  movement  the  hands 
should,  through  the  curb-reins,  induce  the 
horse  to  bring  his  head  into  position  and 
to  yield  the  jaw  by  the  vibratory  motions 


58  HANDS    AND    LEGS. 

before  described,  releasing  the  tension  upon 
the  reins  the  moment  the  horse  obeys  the 
pressure  of  the  bit. 

In  this  way  the  horse  will  be  ridden 
in  progressive  lessons  at  the  walk,  at  the 
trot,  and  at  the  gallop,  the  rider  always 
demanding  the  relaxing  of  the  jaw  and  the 
maintenance  of  the  speed,  but  never 
keeping  a  steady  tension  upon  the  reins. 

Should  the  horse  be  heavy  in  the  fore- 
hand and  inclined  to  bear  upon  the  hand, 
he  should  be  made  to  carry  himself  light 
by  short  pulls  upon  the  snaffle-reins,  held 
in  the  right  hand,  from  below  upwards. 
But  the  active  resistance  of  the  horse 
should  be  overcome  by  the  light  play  of 
the  curb-reins. 

The  effects  of  the  bit  should  be  aided 
by  the  rider's  heels.    That  is,  the  hind  legs 


HANDS    AND    LEGS. 


59 


of  the  horse  will  be  brought  under  him  by 
a  pressure  of  the  heels  preparatory  to  a 
halt  or  when  the  speed  is  to  be  decreased ; 
and  the  bearing  upon  the  mouth  should 
always  be  of  the  lightest,  and  never  con- 
stant, but  ready  to  yield  the  moment  the 
horse  gives  to  the  play  of  the  bit. 

Durinof  these  lessons  the  rider  should 
endeavor  to  keep  his  horse  collected,  so 
that  the  movements  of  the  horse  will  be 
light  and  easy  to  govern. 

As  the  legs  act  upon  the  forces  of  the 
croup,  and  as  the  hand  directs  the  forces 
of  the  forehand,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
rider  can  bring  about  a  union  and  balance 
of  these  forces  and  obtain  immediate  and 
distinct  control  of  the  mass. 

This  union  and  balance  of  the  forces 
is    known    as    the    equilibrmmy     and    is 


6o  HANDS    AND    LEGS. 

treated  at  length  in  the  first  chapter  of  the 
second  part  of  this  work.  In  turning  to 
the  right  or  to  the  left  the  hand  holding 
the  curb-reins  will  be  carried  slightly,  by  a 
bend  of  the  wrist,  to  the  side  of  the  new 
direction,  so  that  the  rein  will  press  against 
the  opposite  side  of  the  horse's  neck  to 
bend  the  forehand  ;  the  outside  heel 
will  bring  up  the  croup  upon  the  new 
line. 

As  soon  as  the  forehand  turns  the  hand 
will  take  an  equal  pressure  upon  both  sides 
of  the  mouth,  for  the  moment,  to  insure 
the  direction,  and  the  legs  will  straighten 
the  croup  when  it  arrives  upon  the 
line. 

Between  hand  and  legs  the  forces  of 
the  horse  must  be  at  all  times  kept  col- 
lected, and  the  young  rider  will  endeavor 


HANDS    AND    LEGS.  6 1 

to  keep  these  aids  ready  to  correct  those 
errors  in  movement  that  the  more  skillful 
rider  will  anticipate  and  prevent. 

The  rider  must  make  the  horse  under- 
stand that  he  cannot  pass  beyond  the  limit 
put  by  the  hand  without  bringing  pain 
upon  himself,  but  that  so  long  as  he  is 
obedient  to  the  bit,  he  will  find  comfort. 
To  this  end  the  hand  will  firmly  resist  any 
attempts  of  the  horse  to  go  beyond  the 
fixed  limit,  but  it  will  make  a  concession 
whenever  he  yields  his  opposition. 

If  the  speed  is  to  be  increased,  the  legs 
will  act  upon  the  croup  and  the  hand  will 
give  more  freedom  to  the  forehand. 

If  it  is  desired  to  moderate  the  speed, 
the  forces  of  the  forehand  will  be  brought 
back,  by  an  increased  tension  upon  the 
reins  ;  and  when  they  are  brought  back  to 


62  HANDS    AND    LEGS. 

a  point  where  they  balance  the  forces  of 
the  croup  a  halt  is  brought  about. 

The  rider  must  bear  in  mind  that  to 
have  his  horse  light  in  hand  and  amenable 
to  control  the  horse  must  be  collected, 
yielding  to  the  bit  and  ready  to  answer 
the  pressure  of  the  heels.  But  if  the  horse 
is  permitted  to  bear  upon  the  hand,  or  to 
hang  back,  he  becomes  heavy,  the  equili- 
brium is  lost,  and  the  horse  is  no  longer 
ready  to  give  instant  obedience. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    WALK    AND    THE    TROT. 

It  is  not  necessary,  nor  is  it  desirable, 
that  the  tight  grip  of  the  thighs  should  be 
maintained  while  at  the  walk.  The  gait 
is  so  smooth  that  the  weight  and  the 
balance  will  serve  to  keep  the  rider  in  his 
seat,  and  the  knees  being  in  position  the 
thighs  may  instantaneously  take  their  hold 
in  case  of  a  sudden  start  of  the  horse. 

But  this  ease  should  never  degenerate 
into  negligence,  and  as  a  horse  is  more 
apt  to  stumble  at  a  walk  than  at  a  quicker 

gait,  the  rider  must  never  permit  his  atten- 

[63] 


64  THE     WALK    AND     THE     TROT. 

tion  to  be  taken  from  his  horse.  The 
horse  should  be  kept  constantly  in  hand, 
particularly  after  any  great  exertion  that 
has  called  upon  his  strength,  for  he  is 
much  less  able  to  recover  from  a  mistake 
when  he  is  tired,  and  he  feels  the  fatigue 
less  when  he  is  kept  roused.  In  going 
down  hill  he  must  have  liberty  enough  to 
permit  his  body  conforming  to  the  slope 
of  the  ground,  so  that  he  may  extend  his 
step  safely. 

For  the  trot  the  horse  must  be  kept 
level  and  light,  between  the  application  of 
the  hand  and  legs.  The  speed  will  be  re- 
strained by  the  first  or  augmented  by  the 
latter,  at  the  will  of  the  rider,  whose  efforts 
should  be  so  directed  as  to  give  a  regu- 
larly-cadenced  gait  of  equal  action,  in  the 
highest  equilibrium  possible. 


THE     WALK    AND     THE     TROT, 


65 


The  height  and  brilliancy  of  movement 
in  the  trot  may  be  governed  by  the  appli- 
cation of  first  the  one  and  then  the  other 
spur,  assisted  by  the  rein  of  the  same  side, 
as  the  opposite  fore-leg  of  the  horse  is 
raised  to  step  off.  In  this  way  it  may  be 
developed  into  the  Spanish  trot  of  the 
manege. 

In  the  trot  the  rider  should  sit  erect, 
with  the  shoulders  thrown  back,  and  the 
thighs  close  to  the  saddle. 

If  the  rider  rises  to  the  trot  the  con- 
stant shifting  of  the  weight  will  greatly 
interfere  with  the  equilibrium  of  the  mass, 
but  it  is  not  necessary  that  the  horse 
should  get  out  of  hand  or  be  permitted  to 
bear  upon  the  bit. 

The  rider  should  take  no  support  from 

the  bit,  but  should  hold  his  hand  so  that 

5 


66  THE     WALK    AND     THE     TROT, 

it  will  be  independent  of  the  motion  he  al- 
lows his  body  to  make. 

To  rise  in  the  trot  the  rider  will  make 
use  of  the  knees  to  secure  the  seat  and 
allow  his  body,  slightly  sustained  by  the 
stirrups,  to  be  thrown  up  by  the  motion  of 
the  horse,  letting  his  weight  sink  back  Into 
the  saddle  in  time  to  take  the  next  impetus 
of  the  gait.  The  shoulders  should  be  held 
easy,  but  in  rest ;  and  the  legs  should  hang 
straight  down  from  the  knee,  and  must  not 
be  permitted  to  work  along  the  sides  of 
the  horse. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE    GALLOP. 


In  the  gallop,  which  is  a  succession  of 
leaps,  the  rider  will  lean  slightly  back,  so 
that  the  buttocks  will  be  carried  well  un- 
der him,  and  hold  the  body  without  stiff- 
ness. 

The  positions  of  the  body  must,  how- 
ever, always  conform  to  the  action  of  the 
horse,  and  to  the  direction  in  which  he 
goes ;  and  practice  must  show  what,  and 
how  great,  these  changes  should  be. 

In  the  gallop  the  horse  must  be  triiey 

to  insure  his  balance  and  safe  footing.  To 

[67] 


68  *    THE    GALLOP. 

be  true  in  the  gallop  the  fore  and  corre- 
sponding hind-leg  will  be  in  the  lead  of  that 
side  to  which  the  horse  is  turning  or  mov- 
ing. 

For  instance,  if  it  is  the  intention  to 
turn  or  to  move  the  horse  at  a  gallop  to 
the  right  he  must  have  the  head  and  croup 
bent  to  the  right,  and  must  take  the  long 
strides  of  the  gait  with  the  fore  and  hind 
leg  of  that  side.  This  will  preserve  his 
center  of  gravity,  and  in  case  of  a  mistake 
he  has  his  legs  in  under  him  to  help  him 
to  a  recovery. 

If  the  horse  is  galloping  in  a  straight 
line  it  makes  no  difference  with  which  of 
his  fore-legs  he  takes  the  long  stride  or 
lead,  provided  the  hind-leg  of  that  side 
corresponds. 

If  a  horse  takes  the  long  strides  with 


THE    GALLOP. 


69 


the  right  fore-leg  and  the  left  hind-leg  he 
is  disunited,  and  has  not  got  his  powers 
well  in  control.  If  in  turning  to  the  left  he 
is  leading  with  the  right  legs,  he  can  with 
difficulty  retain  the  center  of  gravity,  and 
is  apt  to  fall  at  the  slightest  blunder. 

We  say  that  a  horse  leads  on  that  side 
when  he  makes  the  long  strides  with  the 
legs  of  one  or  other  side.  But  the  fact  is, 
the  fore-leg  of  the  other  side  leaves  the 
ground  before  the  fore-leg  which  makes 
the  long  stride  does,  and  the  same  thing 
is  true  of  the  hind-legs.  But  the  legs  on 
the  side  to  which  he  has  been  bent  pass 
the  others  in  their  longer  stride,  and  the 
horse  is  said  to  lead  with  them. 

To  put  the  horse  into  the  gallop,  lead- 
ing with  the  off-leg,  let  the  rider  collect 
him,   then    lightening   the   forehand,    and 


70  THE     GALLOP, 

particularly  the  right  shoulder,  with  a  play 
of  the  direct  rein,  let  him  press  in  the  left 
heel.  In  consequence  of  these  movements 
the  horse  will  take  the  gallop  with  the  legs 
on  the  right  side  making  the  larger  strides  ; 
for  the  right  shoulder  is  free  to  extend 
itself  in  answer  to  the  propulsion  of  the 
forces  from  the  croup,  and  the  hind- 
quarters being  bent  around  to  the  right, 
the  hind-leg  on  that  side  must  follow  w^ith 
a  similar  step.  The  croup  of  the  horse, 
bending  to  the  right  at  the  application  of 
the  opposite  spur,  will  make  the  longer 
stride  with  the  hind-leg  that  is  so  advanced, 
and  such  a  movement  is  required  to  pre- 
serve the  center  of  gravity  under  the  con- 
ditions. 

The  horse   having   been    put  into  the 
gallop,  he  will  be  aligned  upon  the  path  he 


THE     GALLOP. 


71 


follows  by  means  of  the  hand  and  legs. 
The  trained  horse  under  the  skilled  rider 
will  take  the  gallop  upon  the  right  or  upon 
the  left  leg  without  bending  perceptibly ; 
for  so  perfect  will  be  the  equilibrium  and 
the  control,  that  the  measured  use  of  the 
aids  will  inaugurate  a  movement  that  will 
not  require  correction. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


LEAPING. 


The  pupil  should  first  practice  the 
standing  leap,  and  upon  a  well-trained 
horse.  The  horse  standing  at  the  bar  will 
be  induced  to  rise  by  transferring  the 
forces  of  the  forehand  back,  and  by  the 
pressure  of  the  legs  will  be  made  to  spring 
forward. 

As  the  horse  rises  the  rider  will  bend 

slightly  forward,  giving  the  horse  the  reins. 

When  the  horse  leaves   the  ground  the 

rider  should    lean  back,  so  that  he  may 
[72] 


LEAPING. 


n 


preserve  his  center  of  gravity,  and  by 
bringing  his  buttocks  well  in  under  him  re- 
ceive the  shock  in  the  strongest  possible 
seat. 

As  the  hind-legs  of  the  horse  reach  the 
ground  the  rider  will  resume  his  erect 
position.  Any  bearing  upon  the  stirrups 
will  disturb  the  seat,  and  may  cause  the 
rider  to  fall. 

There  must  be  no  attempt  on  the  part 
of  the  rider  to  lift  the  horse,  and  when  the 
hand  has  played  its  part  of  conveying  back 
the  forces  of  the  fore-quarters  it  must  ease 
the  tension  of  the  reins  until  the  fore-feet 
of  the  horse  touch  the  ground,  when  he 
will  feel  the  mouth  to  give  the  horse  such 
support  as  he  may  need  to  recover  the 
equilibrium. 

In  taking  the  flying  leap  the  seat  will 


74  LEAPING. 


be  nearly  the  same  as  that  for  the  gallop  ; 
the  rider  will  not  lean  forward  as  in  the 
standing  leap,  ^or  the  action  of  the  horse 
will  not  require  it,  and  if  he  swerves  or  re- 
fuses the  rider  should  be  sitting  well  back 
to  avoid  a  fall. 

As  the  horse  makes  the  exertion  for 
the  jump  the  rider  will  bring  his  breech 
well  under,  lean  back  as  far  as  the  effort 
the  horse  is  about  to  make  shall  demand, 
and  resume  the  position  for  the  gallop 
when  the  horse  alights,  at  the  same 
moment  collecting  him  for  the  same  speed 
with  which  he  approached  the  leap,  but 
taking  care  not  to  check  him  or  harass  his 
movements. 

When  the  horse  takes  the  flying  leap 
he  must  have  the  fullest  libeity  of  his  head ; 
the  bit  being  used  only  to  direct  him  to 


LEAPING. 


75 


the  obstacle,  and  its  tension  released  be- 
fore the  horse  rises  in  the  leap. 

The  legs  will  be  carried  in  close  to  the 
sides  of  the  horse  to  support  him,  but  he 
should  be  neither  spurred  nor  whipped  at 
the  jump,  as  it  distracts  his  attention  at  a 
critical  moment. 

If  he  requires  it  the  horse  should  be 
roused  before  he  comes  upon  the  ground 
where  he  is  to  decide  upon  his  place  for 
taking  off,  and  from  that  time  he  should 
be  left  to  himself  until  he  receives  the  sup- 
port of  the  bridle  as  his  fore-feet  touch  the 
ground.  The  trick  of  throwing  up  one  arm, 
or  of  giving  a  cry  of  encouragement  to  the 
horse  as  he  rises,  may  work  mischief  by 
causing  him  to  swerve,  but  it  Is  then  too 
late  to  offer  him  aid  in  gathering  for  the 
leap. 


'^(i  LEAPING. 

The  horse  should  not  be  ridden  to  a 
high  leap  at  a  speed  that  extends  him 
too  much.  He  should  not  be  so  flurried 
as  he  approaches  a  wide  leap  that  he  can- 
not use  his  instincts  for  safety.  If  ahorse 
jumps  in  a  slovenly  manner  he  should  be 
remanded  to  the  school. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

VICES,    TRICKS,    AND    FAULTS. 

The  severity  with  which  a  horse  has 
been  punished  for  a  fault  is,  usually,  the 
measure  of  the  violence  with  which  he  will 
repeat  it.  It  is  this  violence  that  makes 
the  horse  so  dangerous  in  his  rebellion,  for 
until  he  loses  his  reason  he  will  take  care 
not  to  injure  himself,  and  so  in  a  measure 
protects  his  rider. 

Few  young  horses  are  dangerous  in 
their  resistances  until  they  have  met  with 
cruel  treatment.     It  is  seldom  that  a  colt 

[77] 


78  VICES,     TRICKS    AND    FAULTS. 

in  breaking  will  bolt  with  his  rider ;  it  is 
usually  the  old  offender  who  is  guilty  of 
this  most  dangerous  of  vices. 

Although  nearly  every  young  horse 
will  rear  at  the  pressure  of  the  bit,  he  will 
seldom  rise  to  a  dangerous  height,  and  he 
soon  ceases  to  offend  in  that  way.  A 
horse  must  be  corrected  and  put  right,  but 
it  is  never  necessary  to  resort  to  severe 
punishments. 

Fortunately  the  horse  is  an  animal  of 
one  idea,  and  when  he  has  determined 
upon  his  line  of  opposition  he  is  easily  cir- 
cumvented and  humbled.  If  he  refuses  to 
turn  to  the  right  he  will  be  so  intent  upon 
opposing  the  right  rein  that  he  may  be 
turned  around  to  the  left  until  he  is  con- 
fused, when  he  will  very  gladly  go  in  any 
direction.     If  he  declines  to  go  forward  he 


VICES,      TRICKS    AND    FAULTS. 


79 


is  not  prepared  to  resist  a  demand  for  a 
backward  movement,  and  he  will  soon  tire 
of  that  unusual  mode  and  start  forward  at 
the  first  hint  from  his  rider. 

But  a  horse  properly  broken  and 
trained  will  not  be  guilty  of  such  con- 
tumacy, and  will  not  be  apt  to  show  the 
vices  of  which  I  am  about  to  speak,  but 
for  which  the  rider  must  be  prepared 

If  a  horse  bolts  the  rider  should  not 
fatigue  himself  by  taking  a  steady  drag 
upon  the  mouth.  Leaning  back,  with 
the  breech  well  under  him,  and  bearing 
no  weight  in  the  stirrups,  the  rider  should 
take  a  succession  of  pulls  upon  the  bit, 
one  following  the  other  sufficiently  near 
to  obtain  cumulative  effect.  When  the 
horse  appears  to  yield  to  the  bit,  advan- 
tage should  be  taken  of  the  moment,  to 


So  VICES,     TRICKS    AND    FAULTS. 

prevent  his  again  extending  himself,  by 
increased  exertions  upon  the  part  of  the 
rider,  whose  power  should  be  reserved  as 
far  as  possible  to  seize  this  opportu- 
nity. 

I  know  of  no  way  to  prevent  a  horse 
bolting  ;  by  keeping  his  head  up  with  the 
snaffle-rein  the  rider  will  have  greater 
command  of  the  horse,  but  the  use  of 
severe  bits  will  not  deter  a  confirmed 
bolter  from  indulging  his  vicious  pro- 
pensity. 

If  a  horse  rears  the  reins  should  be 
loosened,  and  if  the  rider  require  support 
he  should  seize  the  mane,  without,  how- 
ever, letting  the  reins  drop  from  his 
hands.  The  spurs  should  not  be  applied 
while  the  horse  is  rising,  but  as  he  comes 
down   the   legs   of   the   rider   should    be 


VICES,     TRICKS    AND    FAULTS.  8 1 

closed  to  Induce  the  horse  to  go  for- 
ward. 

If  the  horse  refuses  to  go  forward,  the 
rider  will  find  the  side  of  the  mouth  with 
which  the  horse  Is  not  prepared  to  resist, 
by  drawing  the  reins  from  right  to  left, 
and  holding  the  rein  of  that  side  low,  he 
will  pull  the  horse  around,  aiding  the 
hand  by  the  application  of  the  spur  on 
that  side. 

If,  when  the  horse  rears,  he  sinks 
upon  his  hind-quarters,  the  rider  should 
endeavor  to  leave  the  horse  by  seizing 
the  mane  and  throwinor  himself  aside,  and 
although  he  may  not  be  able  to  clear 
himself  of  the  horse,  he  will  at  least  avoid 
coming  down  under  the  saddle. 

If  a  horse  Is  shy  at  passing  an  object 
he  can  generally  be  made  to  proceed  by 


82  VICES,     TRICKS    AND    FAULTS. 

turning  his  head  away,  and  passing  him 
along  with  the  leg  opposite  to  the  object, 
as  in  traversing. 

If  he  is  a  young  horse,  and  has  not 
been  maltreated,  he  will  usually  face  that 
which  has  caused  his  alarm  if  he  is 
allowed  to  take  as  much  room  as  the  way 
offers. 

The  rider  should  avoid,  as  much  as  is 
possible,  taking  notice  of  the  horse's 
fright,  as  any  nervousness  on  the  part  of 
the  rider  will  confirm  the  horse  in  the 
opinion  that  there  is  danger. 

If  a  horse  takes  alarm  on  the  road  at 
things  with  which  he  is  familiar,  it  is 
either  through  defective  eye-sight,  or 
because  he  has  found  out  that  he  can 
take  liberties  with  his  rider. 

A   man   of  discretion  will  know  when 


VICES,     TRICKS    AND    FAULTS.  83 

a  horse  should  be  whipped  up  to  an 
object  of  which  there  Is  a  pretense  of 
fear,  but  the  horse  must  never  be  struck 
after  he  has  passed  on. 

I  do  not  Hke  a  horse  that  has  low 
action,  for  he  must  trip,  and  he  is  likely, 
sooner  or  later,  to  come  down.  A  horse 
stumbles  when,  through  weakness,  weari- 
ness, or  stiffness  from  age  and  work,  he 
is  not  able  to  recover  himself  from  a  trip. 
He  usually  bears  the  evidence  of  his  acci- 
dent on  his  knees. 

A  horse  that  stumbles  from  weakness 
is  not  fit  for  saddle  use.  If  the  rider  is 
unfortunate  enough  to  find  himself 
mounted  upon  a  horse  that  gives  indi- 
cations of  being  insecure  upon  his  feet, 
he  should  demand  free  and  lively  action, 
with   rein  and    legs.     The    horse   should 


84  VICES,     TRICKS    AND    FAULTS. 

not  be  allowed  to  become  Indolent,  nor 
be  permitted  to  hang  upon  the  bit. 

On  descending  a  hill  the  horse  must 
have  liberty  of  action,  for  If  he  steps  too 
short  he  Is  liable  to  come  down  ;  and  a 
horse  that  Is  checked  has  not  sufficient 
freedom  for  his  safety. 

It  Is  after  a  long  day's  work  that  a 
weary  horse  may  for  the  first  time  stum- 
ble, and  It  Is  a  mistaken  Idea  of  kindness 
that  Induces  the  rider  to  let  a  horse  take 
his  head  upon  such  an  occasion.  The 
horse  misses  the  encouragement  of  the 
rein  and  the  support  of  the  leg,  and  is 
invited  to  fall.  Besides,  It  Is  much  more 
fatiguing  for  him  to  bear  his  burden, 
deprived  of  his  usual  aids,  and  in  droop- 
ing spirits. 

Finally,  In  case  of  a  fall,  either  of  a 


VICES,     TRICKS    AND    FAULTS  85 

stumbling  horse,  or  under  any  other  cir- 
cumstances, the  rider  should  hold  on  to 
the  rein  until  he  Is  assured  that  his  feet 
are  free  of  the  stirrups. 


PART     II 


IN      THE     SCHOOL, 


CHAPTER  L 


THE   EQUILIBRIUM. 


The  rider  should  understand  that  it  is 
not  by  the  bridle  alone  that  he  should 
govern  the  horse ;  for  the  bit  acts  directly 
only  on  the  forehand  of  the  animal,  while 
the  croup  or  hind  quarters  will,  without 
some  other  aid,  be  left  ungoverned,  to  fol- 
low the  forehand  in  a  disconnected  and 
unregulated  manner. 

It  is  necessary,  therefore,  that  the  rider 

should  obtain  the  same  control  over  the 

hind  quarters  of  the  horse  as  the  bit  gives 

[89] 


go  THE  EQUILIBRIUM, 

him  over  the  forehand.  To  accomplish 
this  we  must  accustom  the  horse  to  bear 
the  application  of  the  spur  and  to  answer 
its  demands. 

The  horse  is  propelled  by  the  hind 
quarters  and  is  guided  by  the  forehand, 
and  it  is  to  collect  and  govern  the  forces 
of  these  parts  that  we  first  turn  our  atten- 
tion. 

If  the  horse  be  not  collected  and  his 
forces  be  not  balanced,  he  will  move  in  an 
awkward  and  uneven  manner ;  the  fore- 
hand dragging  the  croup,  or  the  croup 
forcing  itself  upon  the  forehand. 

I  may  illustrate  this  subject  of  the 
equilibrium  of  the  forces  of  the  two  ex- 
tremities by  describing  the  action  of  two 
men  bearing  a  sedan-chair.  If  the  move- 
ments of  the  two  bearers  are  not  similar 


THE  EQUILIBRIUM.  ^j 

and  in  unison  the  motion  is  awkward  and 
uneven,  and  both  are  hampered  and  con- 
strained by  the  want  of  uniformity  of 
speed  and  stride.  If  the  man  in  front 
walks  more  rapidly  than  his  fellow  he  not 
only  carries  his  own  share  of  the  burden 
but  has  the  drag  of  his  slower  bearer, 
while  if  the  man  in  the  rear  moves  at  the 
more  rapid  pace  he  not  only  takes  upon 
himself  additional  labor  but  even  disturbs 
and  harasses  the  man  before  him. 

But  when  both  men  move  with  equal 
step  and  equal  speed  the  weight  is  evenly 
and  properly  distributed,  and  the  move- 
ment is  easy  and  regular. 

In  a  like  manner  the  two  extremities 
of  the  horse  must  be  brought  to  work 
together  to  insure  a  uniform,  light  and 
regular  movement ;    and  this  can  only  be 


^2  THE  EQUILIBRIUM. 

done  by  acquiring  and  exercising  control 
over  both  the  forehand  and  the  croup. 

The  reader  may  be  tempted  to  think 
that  nature  ought  to  be  expected  to  look 
out  for  these  things,  and  that  an  animal 
evolved  with  four  legs  ought  to  use  four 
legs  together  better  than  two  animals  each 
evolved  with  two  legs  can  use  their  four 
legs  together.  Undoubtedly  he  can,  but 
no  untrained  creature  is  fit  for  artificial 
uses,  any  more  than  the  raw  recruit  has 
the  strong  and  effective  carriage  of  the 
trained  soldier. 

No  matter  how  well  balanced  a  horse 
may  be  naturally,  the  condition  of  affairs 
is  changed  when  we  put  upon  his  back 
the  weight  of  a  man  and  his  trappings  ; 
and  the  animal  must  be  taught  to  conform 
his  carriage  to  the  new  disposition  of 
weights  and  forces. 


THE  EQUILIBRIUM,  93 

But  If  the  horse  be  naturally  ill-bal- 
anced, with  so  much  more  care  must  he  be 
trained. 

If  the  horse  be  deficient  In  the  fore- 
hand, and  high  and  strong  In  the  croup, 
we  must  strengthen  and  aid  the  forces  of 
the  former,  or  the  animal  will  be  heavy  In 
front  from  the  preponderance  of  the  forces 
of  the  hind  quarters,  and  will  struggle 
against  the  hand.  It  Is  usually  the  horse 
of  this  make  that  In  unskillful  hands  be- 
comes a  bolter  and  a  runaway. 

If  the  horse  be  stron^r  and  well-made 
in  the  forehand,  but  weak  and  deficient  In 
the  croup,  we  must  bring  up  and  strengthen 
the  latter,  so  that  Its  forces  may  meet  and 
balance  the  forces  of  the  forehand. 

Most  of  the  resistances  and  refusals  of 
young  horses  In  training  are  due  to  the 


94  THE    EQUILIBRIUM. 

fact  that  the  animal  Is  not  in  a  position  to 
obey  the  demands  of  his  trainer,  and  a 
horse  will  seldom  refuse  compliance  to  any 
demand  that  he  understands,  If  he  be 
placed  In  the  position  that  renders  his 
obedience  easy. 

That  this  position  Is  that  of  equilibrium 
must  be  apparent,for  his  forces  are  there  col- 
lected and  balanced,  and  he  Is  able  to  make 
any  movement  without  further  preparation. 

To  obtain  this  equilibrium  the  horse 
must  be  light  In  hand,  and  the  croup  must 
readily  answer  to  the  pressure  of  the  legs. 
How  to  teach  the  horse  to  yield  to  the  bit 
will  be  explained  In  the  next  chapter ;  and, 
although  the  method  of  suppling  the 
croup  is  given  at  length  In  another  place, 
I  may  say  here  that  the  horse  may  be 
taught  to  answer  to  the  pressure  of  the  legs 


THE    EQUILIBRIUM.  g- 


by  tapping  him  upon  the  croup  with  the 
whip  held  behind  the  rider's  back,  while 
both  heels  are  pressed  into  the  horse's 
flanks.  When  the  horse  will  answer  to 
the  pressure  of  the  heels  by  bringing  his 
hind-legs  in  under  him,  the  taps  of  the 
whip  should  be  abandoned  and  the  heels 
only  should  be  used. 

The  approximate  equilibrium  must  be 
constant,  for  the  moment  that  it  is  lost  al- 
together the  horse  becomes  heavy,  and  one 
extremity  or  the  other  must  drag  in  action. 
This  not  only  applies  to  the  forward  or 
backward  movements  upon  direct  lines,  but 
to  all  changes  of  direction  and  traverses  to 
either  side.  Of  course,  in  every  movement 
the  equilibrium  is  more  or  less  disturbed  ; 
but  the  better  it  is  kept,  the  lighter  and 
the  more  graceful  will  be  the  action. 


q6  the  equilibrium. 

This  will  be  experienced  by  anybody 
riding  a  horse  unaccustomed  to  the  saddle, 
and  riding  him  again  after  the  animal  has 
had  some  experience,  not  to  say  training. 
The  motion  of  the  green  horse  is  nearly 
always  dull,  heavy,  and  uneven  when  first 
mounted,  and  even  the  good  rider  finds 
but  little  pleasure  or  comfort  in  the  awk- 
ward and  disconnected  movements  of  the 
unbalanced  horse,  which  carries  an  unac- 
customed burden  and  is  harassed  by  the 
restraints  of  the  bit.  After  a  time,  if  he 
rides  the  same  horse  frequently,  he  will 
find  things  going  more  smoothly,  and  the 
young  rider  will  be  apt  to  suppose  that  It 
is  because  he  Is  ''getting  used  to  the 
horse."  That  is,  in  a  measure,  true,  but  it 
is  much  more  because  the  horse  Is  getting 
used  to  move  with    the   new   burden    on 


THE  EQUILIBRIUM.  gj 

his  back.  Now  the  improvement  in  equi- 
librium which  thus  comes  from  even  un- 
skillful use,  may  be  greatly  increased  by 
systematic  training. 

Union  and  balance  must  be  kept,  as 
far  as  is  consistent  with  the  rate  of  speed 
that  the  rider  demands,  when  the  forces  of 
one  extremity  are  advancing,  and  those  of 
the  other  are  pressing  forward  to  find  the 
point  of  balance.  If  the  speed  is  to  be 
increased,  the  legs  of  the  rider  will  act 
upon  the  croup  and  the  hand  will  give 
more  freedom  to  the  forehand.  If  it 
be  desired  to  moderate  the  speed,  the 
forces  of  the  forehand  will  be  brought 
back  by  the  hand ;  and  when  they  are 
brought  to  a  point  where  they  balance  the 
forces  of  the  croup,  a  halt  is  brought  about. 

First,  then,  we  will  consider  the  training 
of  the  forehand,  and  then  that  of  the  croup. 

7 


CHAPTER  II. 

SUPPLING    THE    FOREHAND. 

The  horse  will  first  be  ridden  in  a  plain 
snaffle  bridle,  the  trainer  holding  a  rein  in 
each  hand,  at  such  a  height  as  he  finds 
gives  the  horse  the  greatest  freedom  of 
action.  He  will  induce  the  horse  to  move 
forward  by  some  encouraging  sound,  or  by 
a  gentle  pressure  of  the  unarmed  heels. 

Upon  coming  to  a  turn  the  Inside  rein 

will  be  drawn  to  bend  the  head  of  the  horse 

in  the  new  direction,  and  the  outside  rein 

will  support   and  steady  the  movement, 

while  the  outside  heel  may,  by  a  slight 
[08] 


SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND.  qc) 


pressure,  bring  up  the  croup  of  the  horse. 
When  the  horse  will  turn  readily  going  in 
one  way  about  the  school,  he  will  be  rid- 
den in  a  similar  manner  to  the  other  hand. 

He  will  then  be  ridden  in  the  fio^ure  of 
eight,  taking  the  whole  length  and  breadth 
of  the  manege,  or  training-ground,  in  the 
movement,  and  the  rider  will  use  great 
care  in  shifting  the  aids  at  the  extremities 
of  the  diagonal  lines. 

During  these  lessons,  the  duration  of 
which  will  depend  upon  the  aptitude  of  the 
horse  in  acquiring  the  habit  of  obeying  the 
bit,  he  will  be  permitted  to  walk  in  the 
manner  that  pleases  him,  or  rather,  in  the 
only  way  he  knows,  usually  a  loose  sham- 
bling gait,  with  very  extended  strides  of 
the  hind-legs. 

He  will  then  be  taught  to  carry  himself 


100  SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND. 

in  a  more  collected  manner,  and  to  step  In 
a  regularly-cadenced  and  even  walk,  and 
then  in  a  slow,  measured  trot,  likewise 
cadenced. 

On  the  outside  path  of  the  manege  he 
will  be  put  into  the  walk,  and  as  a  hind-leg 
Is  raised  to  step  forward  the  rider  will 
press  In  his  heel  on  that  side,  and  imme- 
diately after  meet  it  with  the  correspond- 
ing rein,  and  he  will  do  the  same  thing  at 
each  step  of  the  other  hind-leg.  This 
action  of  the  aids  will  shorten  and  equalize 
the  strides  of  the  horse,  and  by  bringing 
back  the  forces  of  the  forehand  to  meet 
the  advancing  forces  of  the  croup,  render 
the  horse  collected  and  light  in  movement. 

The  speed  must  be  kept  regulated,  and 
the  horse  must  not  be  permitted  to  hasten 
or  to  decrease  his  walk  at  the  unaccustomed 


SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND.  iqi 

application  of  the  aids.  This  regularity 
may  be  aided  by  the  encouragement  or 
the  soothing  of  the  animal  by  the  rider's 
voice,  as  the  horse  hangs  back  or  hastens 
forward. 

The  horse  should  be  brought  to  a 
halt  by  the  rider  pressing  in  his  heels,  to 
carry  the  hind-legs  under  the  animal,  and 
the  hand  quickly  acting  upon  the  mouth 
to  check  the  forward  motion.  The  hand 
to  follow  the  pressure  of  the  heels  in  time 
to  prevent  a  second  step  by  the  hind- 
legs,  but  so  gently  as  not  to  harass  the 
horse. 

In  the  same  way  the  horse  will  be  made 
to  take  and  keep  a  slow,  measured  trot, 
the  action  of  the  animal,  not  his  speed,  in- 
creased by  means  of  the  aids.  But  these 
lessons  must  not  be  carried  too  far,  as  it 


102  SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND, 

is  not  now  the  Intention  to  develop  the 
trot  into  the  passage,  but  simply  to  give 
the  horse  light,  even,  and  regular  strides ; 
and  when  this  has  been  acquired  the  horse 
will  be  habitually  ridden  with  an  equal 
pressure  on  both  sides  of  the  mouth  when 
the  bit  is  In  action,  though  never  with  a 
constant  pull  upon  the  reins. 

After  the  horse  has  acquired  the  walk 
and  the  trot  as  described,  he  should  be  rid- 
den In  the  double-reined  bridle,  the  curb-bit 
being  carefully  fitted,  but  sufficiently  severe 
to  make  him  discover  that  it  is  for  his  own 
comfort  that  he  yields  his  head  and  jaw  at 
its  pressure.  I  have  found  that  bits  with 
branches  from  four  and  a  half  to  five 
inches  in  length,  from  the  center  of  the 
mouth-piece,  answer  the  purpose  ;  and  as 
my  horses  never  rear  or  fight  against  the 


SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND. 


103 


hand,  I  think  that  bits  of  this  description 
may  be  used  by  those  riders  who  do  not 
trust  to  the  reins  for  support. 

When  the  rider  first  mounts  the  horse 
bitted  with  curb  and  snaffle,  he  will  draw 
the  curb-reins  up  until  he  has  a  gentle 
feeling  of  the  horse's  mouth.  Then  with 
the  direct  rein,  the  horse  being  at  a  halt, 
he  will  make  light  vibratory  motions  to  in- 
duce the  horse  to  give  his  jaw  upon  one 
side,  and  afterwards  he  will,  in  the  same 
manner,  make  the  horse  yield  his  jaw  to 
the  other  rein.  ,1 

Then,  with  both  r^^s  at  equcrt-length, 
he  will  play  with  the  bit  until  the  horse 
yields  his  jaw  and  carries  his  head  per- 
pendicularly,  giving  the  hand  the  moment 
the  horse  yieles,  so  that  the  animal  may 
understand  that  he  has  done  that  which 


104  SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND. 

was  demanded,  and  that  he  is  rewarded 
for  obedience. 

These  results  cannot  be  accompHshed 
at  once,  and  in  case  of  resistance  the 
trainer  should,  after  a  few  trials,  cease  his 
efforts  and  turn  his  attention  to  some 
other  part  of  the  education  of  the  horse. 
But  when  the  horse  has  refused  obedience 
through  ignorance  or  stubbornness,  while 
he  must  not  be  punished,  he  should  not 
be  led  by  any  act  of  kindness  to  think 
that  his  refusal  has  met  with  the  approba- 
tion of  his  rider. 

I  wish  to  say  here,  at  the  outset  of 
these  instructions  in  training,  that  I  am 
opposed  to  severe  punishments  under  any 
circumstances.  I  have  seen  severity  tried 
in  many  cases,  and  for  years  I  was  under 
the  belief  that  positive  disobedience  should 


SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND. 


05 


meet  with  quick  and  sharp  penalties,  but 
I  have  never  seen  good  results  follow  such 
treatment ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  I 
have  never  known  patient  kindness  fail  to 
conquer  the  most  stubborn  animals. 

Besides  other  advantages  of  the  course 
I  recommend,  it  reduces  the  dangers  of 
training  to  a  minimum  ;  and  the  only  In- 
jury I  have  received  in  schooling  many 
horses,  a  very  slight  one,  I  am  happy  to 
say,  was  the  result  of  an  angry  blow  given 
to  a  young  horse  who  tried  my  patience 
beyond  the  bounds  of  my  philosophy. 
This  lesson  was  not  lost  upon  me,  and  I 
have  found  the  same  horse  perfectly  docile 
when  treated  with  firmness  and  kindness. 

The  spur  and  whip  must  be  used,  but 
the  horse  should  not  look  upon  them  as 
instruments  of  punishment,  and  It  Is  sur- 


I06  SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND. 

prising  how  quickly  a  young  and  spirited 
horse  will  answer  to  the  application  of 
these  aids  without  flinching  or  resentment. 
I  find  that  a  harsh  word  will  answer  every 
purpose  of  correction,  and  all  horses  under- 
stand and  fear  the  ang'ry  tones  of  a  man's 
voice,  as  they  are  soothed  by  his  kind 
words. 

We  will  now  return  to  give  the  horse 
his  first  walking  lesson  in  the  double- 
bridle. 

Taking  the  curb-reins  In  the  left  hand, 
divided  by  the  little  finger  and  grasped  by 
the  thumb,  while  the  snaffle-reins,  divided 
by  its  width,  are  held  above  them  In  the 
right  hand,  the  rider  will  move  the  horse 
upon  the  outside  path  of  the  riding-school 
to  go  around  to  the  right. 

When    the   horse,  at  a   walk,    arrives 


SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND.  jq/ 

upon  the  path,  the  left  hand  will,  by  a 
series  of  gentle  vibrations  of  the  curb- 
reins,  giving  an  equal  bearing  on  both 
sides  of  the  mouth,  induce  the  horse  to 
yield  his  jaw  and  to  carry  his  face  perpen- 
dicular to  the  plane  of  movement. 

The  height  of  the  head,  which  should 
depend  upon  the  conformation  of  the 
horse,  must  be  regulated  by  the  snaffle- 
reins,  as  the  curb-bit  has  a  tendency  to 
make  the  horse  carry  his  head  too  low. 

But  the  two  bits  must  not  act  simul- 
taneously ;  when  the  right  hand  is  to  play 
with  the  snaffle,  the  left  hand  must  ease 
the  tension  on  the  curb-bit,  and  this  rule 
for  the  independent  use  of  the  bits  must 
be  observed  under  all  circumstances. 

Should  the  horse  hang  back,  the  hand 
will  yield,  and  the  closed  heels  will  press 


I08  SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND. 

him  forward,  then  the  rider  will  renew  the 
action  of  the  bit. 

When  the  corner  of  the  school  Is 
reached,  the  tension  of  the  curb-reins  will 
for  a  moment  cease,  and  the  horse  will  be 
turned  in  the  new  direction  by  the  snaffle- 
bit  held  in  the  right  hand ;  but  before  the 
change  is  completed,  the  snaffle-reins  will 
be  eased,  and  the  outside  curb-rein  will  be 
carried  against  the  neck  of  the  horse,"  to 
teach  him  to  bend  at  the  application  of 
the  curb. 

At  each  corner  of  the  riding-school 
these  applications  of  the  aids  will  be  prac- 
ticed, and  upon  the  straight  lines  the  curb- 
bit  will  call  upon  the  horse  to  yield  his  jaw 
and  head,  the  tension  upon  that  bit  ceas- 
ing the  moment  the  horse  obeys  the  de- 
mand. 


SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND. 


09 


After  a  few  turns  about  the  school  to 
the  right,  the  reins  will  be  changed,  the 
left  hand  holding  those  of  the  snaffle  above 
the  curb-reins  now  in  the  right  hand,  and 
the  horse  will  be  walked  the  reversed 
way. 

In  the  straight  lines  the  horse  will  be 
kept  collected  between  the  hand  and  legs, 
and  as  he  learns  to  yield  to  the  bit  and 
answer  to  the  heel,  he  will  become  light. 

When  the  horse  turns  readily  at  the 
corners  in  answer  to  the  snaffle  followed 
by  the  curb,  he  should  be  turned  by  the 
use  of  the  curb  alone,  the  outside  rein  be- 
ing pressed  against  the  neck  and  the  cor- 
responding heel  bringing  up  the  croup. 
After  he  makes  the  turns  at  the  corners  at 
the  pressure  of  the  curb-rein,  he  should  be 
ridden  in  the  figure  of  eight,  taking  the 


no  SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND. 

full  lenorth  and  breadth  of  the  school,  and 
then  gradually  taught  to  go  In  circles  to 
the  right  and  left,  the  equilibrium  being 
always  required. 

In  the  same  way,  using  precisely  the 
same  means,  the  horse  should  be  taught 
to  trot  and  gallop  in  measured  speed  In  the 
equilibrium — the  head  carried  In  a  perpen- 
dicular position,  the  jaw  yielding  to  every 
touch  of  the  curb-rein,  and  the  action  even 
and  regular. 

Should  the  horse  lose  his  equilibrium 
in  the  trot  or  in  the  gallop,  and  become 
heavy  in  hand,  he  should  be  brought  to  a 
halt,  and  after  the  equilibrium  Is  re-estab- 
lished he  should  be  again  put  in  the  action, 
so  that  he  may  know  his  fault  and  correct 
the  habit. 

As  a  rule  the  horse  should  after  every 


SUPPLING    THE    FOREHAND.  m 

mistake  be  brought  back  to  the  first  prin- 
ciples of  the  movement  he  is  attempting. 

The  reason  for  demanding  the  yielding 
of  the  jaw  is  obvious,  for  the  horse  then  is 
incapable  of  resistance  against  the  bit. 
The  position  of  the  head  also  is  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  subjugation  ;  for  while 
the  horse  may  freely  hold  it  at  any  height 
to  insure  ease  and  grace  of  carriage,  he 
cannot  so  well  oppose  the  demands  of  the 
bit  as  he  could  were  his  head  held  stiffly 
out  or  braced  against  his  chest. 

In  this  stage  of  his  education  it  is  ex- 
cellent practice  to  bring  the  horse  to  a  halt 
and  to  carry  his  head  first  to  one  side  and 
then  to  the  other,  until  he  looks  to  the 
rear,  by  the  gentle  play  of  the  direct  rein ; 
and  requiring  him  to  yield  the  jaw  while 
the  head  is  turned  to   the   rear.      After 


112  SUPPLING     THE    FOREHAND. 

bending  to  either  side,  the  neck  should  be 
straightened  and  the  jaw  made  to  yield 
before  the  head  is  bent  to  the  other  side. 

The  different  action  of  the  two  bits 
must  be  constantly  borne  in  mind.  The 
snaffle-bit  will  be  used,  in  short  pulls  up- 
ward, to  make  him  carry  himself  light  In 
front,  If  the  horse  be  naturally  heavy  in 
that  part ;  while  the  curb-bit  will  be  em- 
ployed to  overcome  the  active  resistance 
of  the  horse,  and  to  direct  and  rule  the 
forces  of  the  forehand  after  the  snafBe  has 
accomplished  Its  work.  But  the  two  bits 
must  never  be  used  together,  no  matter 
how  rapidly  the  effects  of  one  must  follow 
those  of  the  other. 


CHAPTER  III. 

SUPPLING   THE   CROUP. 

To  bring  the  horse  under  the  control 
of  the  rider  It  is  necessary  that  the  forces 
of  the  croup  should  answer  to  the  applica- 
tion of  the  legs  as  readily  as  the  forehand 
yields  to  the  demands  of  the  bit. 

The    trainer,    standing    at    the    near 

shoulder   of  the   horse,    will,    in    his   left 

hand,  grasp  the  reins  of  the  curb  close  to 

the  branches  of  the  bit,  and,  by  drawing 

them  towards  the  animal's  chest  in  gentle 

vibrations,  induce  him  to  yield  the  jaw  and 

carry  his  head  in  the  perpendicular  posi- 
8  [113] 


114 


SUPPLING     THE     CROUP, 


tion  ;  at  the  same  time  he  will  tap  the 
horse  upon  the  rump  with  the  whip,  held 
in  the  right  hand,  until  the  hind-legs  are 
carried  under  the  body,  and  the  horse  is 
brought  Into  equilibrium. 

The  taps  of  the  whip  will  then  be 
transferred  to  the  left  flank  until  the 
horse  carries  his  croup  over  one  step  to 
the  right.  The  forehand  will  be  kept  in 
place  by  the  reins,  and  although  the  fore- 
legs have  not  been  raised  from  the 
ground,  the  off  fore-foot  will,  In  the  new 
position,  be  slightly  In  rear  of  the  line  It 
should  occupy.  A  tap  of  the  whip  upon 
the  under  side  of  the  right  fore-arm  will 
bring  that  leg  up  to  Its  place,  and  the 
horse  will  be  straight  in  the  new  position. 

In  this  way  the  horse  will  be  taught 
that,    although    the     forehand    must    not 


SUPPLING     THE     CROUP. 


115 


move  away  from  its  ground,  the  inside 
fore-leor  must  be  raised  and  advanced  to 
accommodate  itself  to  the  new  position 
that  the  mass  has  taken. 

The  horse  will  be  made  to  carry  the 
croup,  step  by  step,  around  the  forehand, 
the  near  fore-leg  acting  as  a  pivot,  and 
th.e  off  fore-leg  moving  enough  only  to 
bring  him  straight  after  each  step  made 
by  the  croup.  He  must  not  take  more 
than  one  step  at  a  time,  and  he  should  be 
permitted  to  move  only  when  it  is  re- 
quired of  him. 

In  a  similar  manner,  standing  at  the 
off  shoulder,  the  trainer  will  make  the 
horse  pass  the  croup  about  the  forehand 
in  the  opposite  direction,  the  off  fore-leg 
acting  as  the  pivot. 

These    exercises    will    be     employed 


Il6  SUPPLING     THE     CROUP. 

between  other  early  lessons,  until  the 
horse  will  pass  to  the  right  or  to  the  left 
without  removing  the  pivot-leg,  and  with- 
out losing  the  equilibrium. 

The  power  of  the  whip  will  now  be 
transferred  to  the  legs  of  the  rider,  in  the 
followinor  manner  : 

The  mounted  trainer  will  bring  the 
horse  into  equilibrium  by  hand  and  legs. 
He  will  then  pass  the  whip,  held  in  his 
right  hand,  behind  his  back,  and  tap  the 
horse  upon  the  near  flank,  pressing  in  the 
left  heel  at  the  same  time,  until  the  croup 
passes  one  step  to  the  right.  The  right 
leg  of  the  rider  will  be  held  close  to  the 
flank  to  prevent  the  horse  drawing  back 
or  making  more  than  one  step,  while  a 
play  of  the  right  curb-rein  will  overcome 
the  resistance  of  the  right  shoulder  of  the 


SUPPLING     THE     CROUP, 


117 


horse,  and,  lightening  that  side,  induce 
him  to  bring  up  his  right  fore-foot  to  the 
Hne  that  will  put  him  straight  in  the  new- 
position. 

Step  by  step  the  circle  of  the  croup 
about  the  near  fore-leg  will  be  completed, 
care  being  taken  to  put  the  horse  straight 
after  each  change  of  position,  and  the 
opposition  of  the  forehand  overcome  by 
the  play  of  the  direct  rein  of  the  side  to 
which  the  horse  moves. 

By  similar  means  the  horse  will  be 
made  to  circle  the  croup  to  the  left  about 
the  off  fore-leg  as  a  pivot. 

When  the  horse  will  make  the  re- 
versed pirouettes  in  the  manner  above 
described  with  lightness  and  precision,  he 
will  be  made  to  pass,  to  the  right  and  to 
the  left,  about  the  outside  pivot-leg  with- 


Il8  SUPPLING     THE     CROUP. 

out  halting  at  each  step ;  the  proper  fore- 
foot being  brought  up  with  each  move- 
ment of  the  croup  to  maintain  the  straight 
position. 

The  next  practice  will  be  to  make  the 
horse  move  the  croup  one  step  to  the 
right,  then  one  step  back  to  the  left,  one 
step  again  to  the  right,  and  so  on,  until 
he  obeys  the  pressure  of  the  legs  without 
hesitation. 

In  all  movements  of  the  croup  about 
the  forehand  the  head  of  the  horse 
should  be  bent  towards  the  advancinor 
croup,  and  the  forehand  should  be  kept 
light  by  the  play  of  the  direct  rein. 

These  lessons  will  render  the  horse 
ready  and  quick,  and  he  will  soon  obey 
the  pressure  of  the  leg  without  waiting 
for  the  prick  of  the  spur,  the  more  severe 


SUPPLING     THE     CROUP. 


119 


form  of  the  aid  being  held  in  reserve  to 
be  used  only  when  required. 

Having  obtained  control  of  the  forces 
of  the  forehand  and  of  the  croup,  we 
have  the  horse  under  command,  and  we 
may  perform  any  movement  by  the 
proper  employment  of  our  powers. 

The  pressure  of  the  heels  will  not  in- 
crease the  speed  beyond  the  liberty 
allowed  by  the  hand,  and  the  horse 
should  be  accustomed,  by  the  restraint  of 
the  hand  and  the  pressure  of  the  legs,  to 
moderate  his  speed,  or  even  come  to  a 
halt,^in  a  collected  form. 

In  brincrinor  the  horse  to  a  halt,  tlie 
heel  pressure  will  precede  the  action  of 
the  hand.  In  reaucmg  tne  speed,  circum- 
stances will  dictate  how  much,  and  when, 
the   aids  will    act.     This   collected   state 


120  SUPPLING     THE    CROUP, 

gives  the  horse  security  in  his  movements, 
as  he  is  always  ready  to  recover  from  a 
mistake,  and  it  is  necessary  for  the  main- 
tenance of  equilibrium. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

TO    BACK. 

All  horses  should  be  taught  to  move 
backward  with  ease  and  lightness  ;  not 
only  that  the  animal  shall  be  prepared  to 
go  in  every  direction,  but  also  that  he 
may  the  more  readily  learn  to  collect  him- 
self and  be  quick  and  ready  in  his  move- 
ments. 

Backing  is  a  movement  not  natural  to 
the  horse,  and  he  must  be  made  to  aban- 
don all  repugnance  to  the  unusual  action, 
and  be  taught  how  best  to  perform  it. 

If  the  horse  be  made  to  back  by  means 

[121] 


122  TO    BACK. 

of  the  bit  only,  the  forces  of  the  forehand 
will  bear  down  and  cramp  the  croup,  and 
if  any  movement  to  the  rear  takes  place  it 
must  be  with  difficulty  and  awkward- 
ness. 

It  is  evident,  therefore,  that,  if  the 
movement  is  to  be  made  with  ease  and 
grace,  the  forces  of  the  croup  must  be 
brought  up  to  a  point  nearly  in  balance 
with  those  of  the  forehand,  but  yielding 
to  the  latter  sufficiently  to  permit  the 
retrogression  at  the  desired  speed. 

It  is  not  possible  for  the  horse  to  back 
with  rapidity  and  retain  his  lightness,  and 
the  school-terms  of  the  '*  gallop  back- 
ward "  and  the  *'  trot  backward  "  mean 
only  that  the  motions  of  those  paces  are 
observed  while  the  horse  moves  slowly  to 
the  rear. 


TO    BACK. 


123 


To  teach  the  horse  how  to  back,  he 
should  be  brought,  saddled  and  bridled, 
upon  the  training  ground.  The  trainer 
will  then,  by  means  of  the  left  hand  acting 
upon  the  reins  beneath  the  chin,  and  the 
taps  of  the  whip  upon  the  croup,  bring 
him  into  equilibrium.  Then,  by  continu- 
ing the  taps  of  the  whip  upon  his  croup, 
the  horse  will  be  made  to  raise  one  of  his 
hind-legs,  but  before  the  mass  gets  a  for- 
ward impulse  the  hand  will  carry  the  horse 
back  one  step,  and  before  he  loses  his 
lightness  he  will  be  made  to  advance  a 
few  steps. 

In  the  next  lesson  he  may  be  made  to 
take  two  or  three  steps  to  the  rear,  and  to 
advance  several  steps  before  the  equili- 
brium is  destroyed. 

By  short  progressive  lessons  of  a  few 


124 


TO  BACK. 


minutes  each  day,  he  will  be  practiced 
until  he  will  carry  himself  a  number  of 
paces  to  the  rear  without  losing  the  equi- 
librium, which  should  be  retained  by  the 
hand  and  whip  acting  upon  the  forehand 
and  the  croup,  as  either  requires  the  stim- 
ulant of  an  aid. 

Care  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  horse 
perfectly  straight  at  all  times ;  and  to 
assist  the  trainer  in  this  it  is  well  to  have 
the  horse  alonq;  the  side  of  a  wall. 

After  the  horse  has  been  taught  by 
the  trainer  on  foot  to  move  backward 
with  lightness,  the  man  should  begin  the 
mounted  lessons.  The  rider  will  bring  the 
horse  into  equilibrium  at  the  halt ;  then 
pressing  in  his  heels  until  the  horse  raises 
one  of  his  hind-feet,  as  if  to  advance,  the 
rider  will  carry  back  the   balanced   mass 


TO    BACK. 


25 


one  step  by  a  light  pressure  upon  the  bit, 
and  Immediately  make  the  horse  advance 
by  yielding  the  hand  and  closing  In  the 
heels. 

Each  day  the  horse  will  be  made  to 
take  an  additional  step,  or  more  If  he  still 
retain  his  lightness,  until  In  time  he  is 
able  to  go  any  distance  to  the  rear  without 
becoming  heavy. 

If  the  croup  yields  too  much  to  the 
coming  forehand,  the  heel  of  the  rider 
will  support  the  croup  upon  the  side  of  the 
lifted  hind-leg,  and  the  pressure  of  the 
bit  should  only  be  felt  as  each  step  is 
made,  and  then  only  sufficiently  to  bring 
about  the  movement.  Of  course,  the 
horse  must  be  kept  perfectly  straight  by 
the  ready  pressure  of  the  rider's  heels. 

The  horse  should    not   be    permitted 


126  TO    BACK,  , 

to  come  to  a  halt  after  backing  until  he 
has  made  a  few  forward  steps  without  a 
break  in  action. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE    PASSAGE. 


The  passage  is  a  kind  of  trot,  of  very 
brilliant  action,  in  the  highest  possible 
equilibrium.  It  is  usually  employed  in 
traversing,  as  the  position  in  which  the 
horse  is  found  at  each  stride  is  favorable 
to  his  balance  in  moving  to  the  right  or  to 
the  left. 

In  the  passage  the  weight  of  the 
horse,  at  each  cadence  of  the  gait,  is  borne 
by  a  fore-leg  and  its  diagonally  opposed 
hind-leg,    and  from  the  spring    given    at 

each  step  he  is   for    the    moment  in  the 

[127] 


128  THE     PASSAGE, 

air.  The  effect  of  this  action  is  striking 
and  graceful. 

The  passage  is  produced  by  putting 
the  horse  into  a  slow  trot  and  restrain- 
ing the  forward  movement,  while  great 
exertion  is  demanded  by  the  spurs.  The 
opposite  spur  is  applied  as  the  horse 
raises  each  fore-leg  in  movement,  and  the 
hand  meets  and  opposes  the  spur  as  the 
hind-leg  of  each  side  is  thus  brought  into 
action.  That  is,  the  spur  and  the  rein 
of  the  same  side  serve  to  produce  the 
action,  shorten  the  stride  and  restrain  the 
speed. 

If  the  horse  is  about  to  lead  off  with 
the  right  fore-leg,  the  rider  will  apply 
the  left  spur  to  increase  the  croup  action 
and  to  support  the  raised  fore-leg,  and 
will  immediately  after  draw  the  left  rein 


THE     PASSAGE.  129 

to  check  the  forward  impulse,  and  in 
that  way  further  increase  the  action  and 
produce  the  momentary  halt  that  adds 
so  greatly  to  the  effect  of  this  trot. 

The  speed  must  be  very  moderate  and 
regular,  at  each  stride  the  momentary 
rest  must  be  marked,  and  the  equilibrium 
must  be   maintained. 

The  exercises  with  hand  and  heels, 
recommended  in  Chapter  II.  for  giving 
the  horse  a  steady,  regular  step,  are  ad- 
mirably adapted  for  preparing  the  animal 
for  his  lessons  in  the  passage.  Indeed, 
the  aids  are  the  same  in  both  cases ;  and 
in  the  passage  the  diagonal  action,  if  I 
may  use  the  term,  is  produced  by  the 
accentuated  use  of  the  spur  forcing  the 
croup  while  the  hand  restrains  the  fore- 
hand ;  and  another  effect  of  the  combined 


I30 


THE     PASSAGE. 


aids  is  the  height  and  brllHancy  of  the 
step. 

After  the  horse  has  been  perfected 
in  the  passage,  the  intermittent  pulls 
upon  either  side  of  the  mouth  may  cease, 
and  the  hand  will  take  an  even  bearing 
upon  the  reins  whenever  it  is  necessary 
to  feel  the  mouth,  and  the  slightest  press- 
ure of  the  rider's  leg  only  will  be  re- 
quired as  the  horse  leads  with  the  op- 
posite fore-leg. 

But  the  application  of  the  rider's  legs 
should  not  cease  while  the  horse  is  to 
be  retained  in  the  action  of  the  passage ; 
and  it  should  be  a  rule  that,  except  in 
the  walk,  the  trot,  and  the  gallop,  in 
direct  lines,  the  horse  should  never  be 
allowed  to  maintain  a  school  movement 
after   the   indication    of  the   aid   ceases ; 


THE     PASSAGE. 


131 


Otherwise  he  may  volunteer  an  undesired 
performance. 

After  circling,  traversing,  the  changes 
of  leg  In  the  gallop,  or  the  movements  In 
place  and  to  the  rear,  the  horse  will  be 
put  Into  direct  lines  In  the  same  action 
In  which  these  are  performed  before  he 
Is  brouorht  to  a  halt.     This  rule  does  not 

o 

apply  to  the  horse  while  he  is  learning 
the  rudiments  of  the  movements,  because 
It  Is  often  necessary  to  bring  him  to  a  halt 
to  correct  an  error,  but  after  he  can  per- 
form the  various  airs  he  should  be  taught 
to  observe  it. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE    PIAFFER. 


The  plaffer  Is  simply  the  passage  with- 
out advancing ;  and  the  horse  will  be 
brought  to  perform  It  by  giving  him  the 
action  of  the  passage  and  then  preventing 
him  from  gaining  ground  by  carrying  back 
the  forces  of  the  forehand  with  the  bit. 

At  first  the  rein  and  spur  will  act  at 

each  step,  as  in  the  passage,  but  after  the 

horse  has  acquired  the  action  it  will  only 

be  necessary  to  keep  him  light  in  front  and 

to  use  a  gentle  pressure  of  the  rider  s  leg 
[132] 


THE      PIAFFER. 


133 


as  the  animal  raises  the  opposite  fore-leg 
and  Its  diagonally  disposed  hind-leg  to  sus- 
tain the  movement, 

The  plaffer  Is  useful  In  rendering  the 
horse  light,  and  In  putting  him  In  a  posi- 
tion from  which  he  can  make  any  move- 
ment with  great  celerity  and  precision,  as 
he  will  be  ready  to  advance,  to  retreat,  or 
to  traverse  to  either  hand  without  further 
preparation. 

This  Is  a  movement  difficult  to  control, 
and  the  equilibrium  Is  of  the  highest  Im- 
portance. It  should  not  be  undertaken 
until  the  horse  Is  quite  perfect  In  the  pas- 
sage, and  has  been  taught  to  back  with 
ease  and  lightness. 

The  lessons  in  the  plaffer  should  be 
given  every  day,  but  for  only  a  few  min- 
utes, as  the  action  is  very  fatiguing  and 


J  24  THE      PIAFFER, 


harassing  to  the  horse,  and  he  is  apt  to 
become  careless  and  heavy. 

The  advance  in  the  passage  should  be 
gradually  decreased,  and  when  the  horse 
has  made  a  step  or  two  in  place,  or  in  the 
piaffer,  he  should  be  permitted  to  again 
advance  in  the  passage  and  be  rewarded 
by  a  kind  word. 

In  a  short  time,  increasing  the  number 
of  steps  in  the  piaffer  at  each  lesson,  the 
horse  will  perform  the  movement  without 
difficulty,  and  can  be  made  to  begin  the 
action  from  the  halt. 

But  if  the  first  lessons  are  given  from 
the  halt,  the  horse  must  offer  more  or  less 
resistance,  and  will  frequently  become  vio- 
lent in  his  opposition. 

The  rider  must  endeavor  to  obtain  a 
regular  and  even  step,  each  leg  having  the 


THE     PIAFFER.  1 35 

same  height  of  action,  and  the  whole  move- 
ment being  made  with  that  springy  mo- 
tion that  is  proof  of  a  high  state  of  equi- 
librium. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

TO    BACK    AT    THE    PIAFFER. 

The  means  for  producing  a  backward 
movement  in  the  piaffer  should  be  appar- 
ent to  all  who  have  read  the  preceding 
pages,  but  great  tact  and  discretion  are 
required,  and  perfect  concord  must  exist 
between  horse  and  rider. 

When  two  legs  of  the  horse  are  raised 

in  one  of  the  steps  of  the  piaffer,  the  hand 

will  carry  the  balanced  mass  to  the  rear, 

and  they  will  come  to  the  ground  a  few 

inches  to  the  rear  of   the  position  they 

would  take  in  the  piaffer  in  place. 
[136] 


TO    BACK    AT    THE    PIAFFE R. 


137 


The  increased  tension  upon  the  reins 
should  cease  the  moment  the  Impulse  to 
the  rear  has  been  given,  to  be  felt  In  the 
same  way  at  the  next  step  of  the  other 
pair  of  legs.  The  spurs  will  keep  up  the 
action  of  the  plaffer,  and  prevent  too  pre- 
cipitate a  retreat. 

When  it  is  desired  to  go  forward  the 
hand  will  yield  at  some  cadence  of  the 
movement,  and  the  increased  pressure  of 
the  heels  will  carry  forward  the  raised  legs 
of  the  balanced  horse. 

In  this,  as  in  all  other  movements,  the 
rider  should  sit  quietly  upon  his  horse,  so 
carrying  his  hands  and  legs  that  his  mo- 
tions in  applying  the  aids  shall  be  almost 
imperceptible.  It  detracts  greatly  from 
the  appearance  of  a  horseman  to  be  seen 
making  violent  efforts  with  hands  and  heels, 


138  TO    BACK    AT    THE    PIAFFER. 

and  the  shifting  of  his  weight  under  such 
circumstances  disturbs  and  hampers  the 
horse. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

CHANGES    IN    THE    GALLOP. 

The  gallop  Is  a  succession  of  leaps,  in 
which  the  legs  of  one  side  leave  the  ground 
after,  but  pass  beyond,  the  legs  of  the 
other  side  ;  and  the  horse  is  said  to  lead 
with  the  side  making  the  more  extended 
strides. 

If  the  horse  take  the  long  strides  with 
one  side,  and  turns  to  the  other  in  chang- 
ing direction,  he  \s  false  in  his  gallop.  If 
he  take  the  long  strides  with  a  fore-leg 

and  the  diagonally  opposed  hind-leg  he  is 

[139] 


140  CHANGES    IN    THE     GALLOP. 

disconnected.  That  is,  to  be  true  and  con- 
nected in  the  gallop  the  horse  must  always 
Jead  with  the  side  towards  which  he  is 
turning  or  traversing,  and  the  legs  of  the 
same  side  must  correspond  in  action. 

In  the  gallop  the  horse  rises  more  upon 
the  side  with  which  he  leads,  and  the  croup 
is  bent  to  that  side  to  enable  his  hind-leg 
to  make  a  stride  corresponding  with  that 
of  the  leading  fore-leg  ;  and  here  we  have 
the  key  for  demanding  its  perform- 
ance. 

If  we  wish,  therefore,  to  make  the 
horse  gallop  leading  with  the  right  side, 
we  shall  lighten  that  side  by  2.  play  of  the 
direct-rein,  and  bend  the  croup  by  an  ap- 
plication of  the  left  spur.  When  the 
horse  strikes  off,  the  hand  and  legs  will 
align  him  upon  the  path  he  is  to  follow, 


CHANGES    IN    THE     GALLOP.  j^i 


and  collect  him  for  the  desired  speed.  To 
this  end  the  leg  opposite  to  the  spur  must 
be  carried  closely  to  the  flank,  to  be  ready 
to  give  support,  and  to  prevent  too  much 
yielding  to  the  rowels. 

This  method  must  not  be  confounded 
with  that  prescribed  by  military  writers, 
for  although  the  Instructions  appear  to 
have  great  similarity,  the  effects  are  very 
different.  In  military  riding,  the  rule  for 
making  the  horse  gallop  with  a  snaffle- 
bridle  is  to  raise  the  opposite  rein,  lowe7^ 
the  direct-rein,  and  apply  the  opposite 
spur. 

The  theory  I  advance  would  require 
the  reverse  of  this,  so  far  as  regards  the 
reins.  The  ''  double-feeling  "  of  the  direct 
curb-rein  in  the  cavalry  schools  Is  not  the 
play  or  vibration  that   I  advise  to  lighten 


142  CHANGES     IN     THE     GALLOP. 

the  side  with  which  the  long  strides  are  to 
be  taken  ;  for  the  soldier  by  the  "  double- 
feeling  "  of  the  direct-rein  bends  the  horse's 
head  to  that  side,  and  with  the  opposite 
spur  brings  about  the  croup,  and  the  horse 
must  take  the  gallop  with  the  side  so  col- 
lected. But  while  the  desired  action  has 
been  brought  about,  the  horse  cannot  have 
that  grace  and  freedom  of  action  that 
follows  the  method  of  lightening  the  side 
that  is  to  lead. 

All  authorities,  other  than  the  one  I 
have  just  referred  to,  follow  the  old  rule 
of  '*  the  opposite  rein  and  opposite  spur,'* 
until  the  horse  has  been  taught  to  gallop 
with  either  side,  when  some  other  and 
more  proper  method  is  substituted.  But 
there  can  be  no  good  reason  for  adopting 
a  false  method  by  which  to  teach  a  move- 


CHANGES     IN    THE     GALLOP. 


43 


ment  If  a  horse  can  be  taught  by  the 
proper  method  from  the  beginning. 

If  the  horse  is  lightened  in  front  by  a 
play  of  the  bit,  he  may  be  lightened  more 
upon  one  side  than  upon  the  other  by  the 
increased  action  of  the  bit  upon  that  side  ; 
and  by  this  method  the  horse  may  be 
trained  to  gallop  by  the  use  of  the  same 
means  that  shall  be  used  to  make  him 
perform  the  movement  after  he  has  been 
trained.  I  have  employed  the  rule  founded 
upon  this  theory  with  complete  success, 
not  only  in  teaching  the  gallop,  but  in 
schooling  for  all  those  movements  requir- 
ing the  lightening  of  one  side  of  the  horse, 
as  in  the  pirouettes  and  traversing. 

As  the  horse  can  best  maintain  his 
balance  and  keep  his  footing  when  he  is 
true  and  connected  in  his  gallop,  it  is  of 


144 


CHANGES     IN    THE    GALLOP. 


the  first  Importance  that  the  rider  should 
be  able  to  demand  the  changes  of  leg 
while  in  action ;  but  this  requires  long 
schooling  and  great  tact. 

The  horse  must  first  be  taught  to  gal- 
lop leading  with  either  side,  at  the  will  of 
the  rider,  In  a  regularly-cadenced  gait,  in 
direct  lines  and  in  circles.  While  gallop- 
Inof  In  a  direct  line  he  will  be  brought  to 
a  halt,  and  then  made  to  lead  off  in  the 
gfallop  with  the  opposite  side. 

When  he  will  perform  this  change  from 
the  halt  with  clearness  and  precision,  he 
will  be  slowly  galloped  In  a  circle  and, 
without  the  halt,  changed  to  a  circle  In 
the  opposite  direction,  the  hand  acting 
upon  the  forehand  as  It  rises,  and  the 
spur  of  the  opposite  side  pressing  In  as 
soon  as  the  forehand  bends  to  the  bit.    As 


CHANGES    IN    THE     GALLOP.  145 

the  hand  acts  the  body  of  the  rider  will 
be  carried  back,  to  be  brought  forward 
again  as  the  spur  is  applied. 

This  use  of  the  aids  and  disposition  of 
the  weights,  as  the  horse  is  about  to 
change  the  lead,  will  give  the  poise,  at  the 
moment  the  forehand  is  in  the  air,  which 
enables  the  horse  to  take  the  new  lead 
with  smoothness  and  exactness. 

The  application  of  the  aids  must  be 
made  with  celerity,  but  without  unneces- 
sary force  or  effort  upon  the  part  of  the 
rider. 

After  the  horse  will  make  the  changes 
neatly  in  turning  from  one  circle  to  an- 
other, he  will  be  made  to  change  his  lead 
in  the  direct  line  at  any  step  without 
halting. 

But  the  horse  must  not  be  put  forward 
10 


146 


CHANGES     IN    THE    GALLOP. 


until  he  perfectly  performs  each  successive 
step  in  the  lesson,  and  he  must  be  brought 
back  to  the  first  prmczples  of  the  move- 
ment whenever  he  becomes  careless  or 
awkward. 

In  demanding  a  lead  of  either  side  or 
a  change  in  the  lead,  the  horse  will  be 
bent  no  further  than  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  obtain  the  movement,  and  in  mak- 
ing the  circles  the  body  of  the  horse 
should  conform  to  their  circumferences. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  the 
highest  equilibrium  is  essential  to  the  per- 
formance of  the  changes. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

TO    HALT   IN   THE   GALLOP. 

In  all  the  exercises  for  bringing  the 
horse  into  equilibrium  he  has  been  learn- 
ing to  carry  his  hind-legs  under  him  at  the 
pressure  of  the  rider's  heels,  and  from  his 
obedience  to  this  indication  we  can  readily 
get  a  finished  halt  from  the  gallop. 

The  horse  will  first  be  accustomed  to 
come  to  a  halt  from  the  walk  at  the  press- 
ure of  the  rider's  legs,  closely  followed 
by  the  raising  of  the  bridle-hand.  In  the 
same  way  he  will  be- brought  to  a  halt  from 

the  trot. 

[147] 


148  TO    HALT    IN     THE     GALLOP. 

Then,  being  put  Into  a  measured  gal- 
lop, the  rider  will  bring  him  to  a  halt  by 
pressing  in  the  heels  as  the  horse  is  begin- 
ning some  cadence  of  the  gait  with  his 
hind-legs,  and  raising  the  bridle-hand  as 
the  horse  is  beginning  the  succeeding 
cadence  with  the  fore-legs. 

The  result  of  these  applications  of  the 
aids  will  be  that  the  horse  will  come  to  a 
finished  halt  at  the  completion  of  the 
second  cadence  of  the  gait.  For  at  the 
pressure  of  the  heels  the  horse  will  bring 
his  hind-legs  well  under  his  body,  and  at 
the  drawino;  of  the  reins  he  will  arrest  his 
action  in  the  forehand,  and  he  will  come 
to  the  halt  with  his  powers  collected. 

As  the  rider  presses  in  his  heels  he 
should  lean  well  back,  so  that  his  weight 
may  aid  in  fixing  the  croup  of  the  horse 


TO    HALT    IN     THE     GALLOP.  149 

at  the  finished  stride.  The  legs  and  hand 
of  the  rider  must  be  used  with  promptness, 
but  without  violence,  and  the  time  must 
be  well  chosen. 

After  a  few  trials  the  rider  will  be  able 
to  seize  the  proper  moment  without 
being  conscious  of  having  noted  the  leaps 
of  the  horse  ;  and  in  time  he  will  bring 
his  horse  to  a  finished  halt  from  the  gal- 
lop with  the  same  ease,  and  with  as  little 
thought  of  the  steps  to  be  followed,  as  he 
would  use  to  turn  to  the  right  or  to  the 
left. 

The  halt  in  the  gallop  prepares  the 
horse  for  the  momentary  rest  that  pre- 
cedes the  change  of  leg  in  the  gallop,  as 
the  forehand  rises  for  the  new  lead. 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE   GALLOP    IN    PLACE. 

This  movement,  and  that  which  fol- 
lows, may  be  performed  only  by  a  col- 
lected horse  in  the  hands  of  a  skillful 
rider.  Under  such  circumstances  there 
should  be  no  difficulty  in  producing  these 
brilliant  effects. 

When  we  first  put  the  young  horse 
into  the  gallop,  we  find  it  difficult  to  keep 
him  at  a  measured  rate  of  speed  in  a  reg- 
ularly-cadenced  stride.  But  by  the  re- 
straint of  the  hand,  and  the  support  and 
[150] 


THE     GALLOP    IN    PLACE.  151 

encouragement  of  the  spurs,  we  teach  him 
to  take  and  maintain  the  gallop  at  the 
desired  speed.  By  the  same  means  that 
we  employ  to  regulate  h's  speed  we  may 
prevent  his  progress,  or  even  compel 
retrogression  in  the  action  of  the  gallop. 

Before  it  is  attempted  to  teach  the 
horse  the  gallop  in  place  he  must  be 
taught  to  gallop  in  direct  lines  in  such  a 
measured  and  collected  manner  that  a 
slight  change  In  the  tension  of  the  reins 
will  not  discompose  his  action. 

The  rider  will  then  practice  bringing 
him  to  a  very  slow  gallop  by  the  restraint 
of  the  hand,  while  the  pressure  of  the 
heels  will  prevent  him  becoming  heavy  in 
the  croup  by  demanding  the  action  of 
that  part.  He  will  then  be  taught  to 
begin  the  gallop  at  this  very  low  rate  of 


152  THE     GALLOP    LN    PLACE, 

speed,  and  after  a  few  strides  be  brought 
to  a  halt. 

In  time,  he  should  be  made  to  take 
several  steps  in  place  at  starting,  and  then 
be  allowed  to  go  forward  at  the  slow 
gallop,  and  be  rewarded  by  a  caress  and 
a  kind  word  for  the  few  steps  he  has 
taken  in  place  ;  for  this  movement  is  very 
trying  to  the  temper  of  the  horse,  and  he 
must,  by  short  lessons  and  rewards,  be 
encouraged  in  his  efforts  to  obey  the 
demands  made  upon  him. 

Each  day  the  number  of  steps  may  be 
increased,  but  he  should  never  be  required 
to  keep  up  this  fatiguing  and  harassing 
action  for  any  great  length  of  time. 

The  forces  of  the  forehand  must  not 
too  greatly  over-balance  those  of  the 
croup,  or  the  hind  quarters  will  be  fixed  to 


THE    GALLOP    LN    PLACE. 


153 


the  ground,  and  the  movement  will 
degenerate  into  a  series  of  rearings.  The 
spurs  should  keep  up  the  forces  of  the 
croup,  and  the  hind-feet  should  move  at 
each  leap. 

The  changes  of  leg  in  the  gallop  in 
place  may  be  made  in  exactly  the  same 
manner  as  when  the  horse  is  advancing. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

TO    BACK    AT   THE   GALLOP. 

To  back  the  horse  in  the  action  of  the 
gallop  from  the  gallop  in  place,  it  is  re- 
quired that,  as  the  forehand  begins  to  sink 
in  a  cadence  of  the  action,  the  forces 
should  be  carried  back  by  the  hand  so  that 
the  fore-feet  will  touch  the  ground  a  few 
inches  within  the  line  they  would  have 
reached  from  the  gallop  in  place,  and  the 
hand  then  giving  way,  the  croup  will  be 
lightened  and  the  hind-legs  will  be  carried 
back   far   enough    to   find    their    proper 

[i54l 


TO    BACK    AT     THE     GALLOP.  155 

position  required  to  keep  the  horse  col- 
lected at  each  finished  step. 

The  movement  of  the  croup  to  the 
rear  will  be  measured  by  the  spurs,  and  it 
must  not  be  allowed  to  go  so  far  as  to 
make  it  impossible  for  the  horse  to  rise  at 
the  succeeding  cadence. 

To  move  forward,  and  the  horse  should 
be  made  to  advance  before  he  comes  to  a 
rest,  the  hand  will  give  liberty  to  the  horse 
as  he  rises,  and  the  spurs  will  act  upon  the 
croup,  so  that  the  horse  will  take  a  gallop  in 
the  direct  line  In  a  regular  and  even  stride. 

The  gallop  to  the  rear  Is  a  mere  tour 
de  fo7'ce,  to  exhibit  the  skill  of  the  rider 
and  the  training  of  the  animal.  The 
movement  must  be  made  very  slowly,  and 
exactly  the  right  time  must  be  taken  to  in- 
crease or  yield  the  tension  of  the  reins,  or 


156  'TO    RACK    AT    THE    GALLOP. 

the  balance  of  the  mass  will  be  destroyed 

and  a  mishap  may  ensue. 

The  gallop  in  place  is  in  the  true  action 
of  the  gallop,  and  the  horse  is  in  a  high 
state  of  equilibrium.  But  in  the  so-called 
gallop  to  the  rear,  while  the  horse  must  be 
in  perfect  equilibrium  to  begin  the  move- 
ment, the  forces  of  the  forehand  must  be 
carried  back  too  far,  and  the  changes  in 
the  points  of  balance  are  made  too  slowly 
to  permit  the  horse  to  be  always  light. 

Of  course,  the  horse  must  be  kept  col- 
lected, and  the  action  of  the  forehand  and 
of  the  croup  must  be  kept  up  in  the  best 
equilibrium  possible,  or  the  movement  must 
come  to  an  end.  But  a  high  state  of 
equilibrium  is  not  constant,  though  it  may 
be  regained  when  the  horse  moves  forward 
in  the  gallop. 


TO    BACK    AT     THE     GALLOP. 


157 


I  believe  that  no  other  writer  has  given 
a  description  of  the  action  of  the  horse  in 
the  movement,  and  I  know  that  the  im- 
pression derived  from  the  methods  by 
which  it  is  proposed  to  produce  it  Is  of  an 
action  very  different  from  that  I  have  de- 
scribed. I  can  only  say  that  I  have  ex- 
plained the  movement  as  I  have  seen  it 
performed  by  the  horse,  and  I  know  of  no 
other  way  in  which  the  horse  can  move 
with  lightness  to  the  rear  in  any  action 
that  resembles  the  gallop. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


THE    SPANISH    TROT. 


While  I  do  not  consider  this  move- 
ment to  be  within  the  scope  of  my  work, 
for  I  do  not  see  that  It  answers  any  useful 
purpose,  I  have  undertaken  to  give  several 
of  the  many  methods  by  which  it  may  be 
produced,  because  It  Is  so  greatly  ad- 
mired for  the  briniancy  and  elegance  of  its 
action. 

,  By  one  method  the  trainer  will,  stand- 
ing at  either  shoulder  of  the  horse,  bring 
him  into  equilibrium  with  a  hand  operating 
upon  the  jaw  by    the  reins  held  beneath 

[158] 


THE     SPANISH    TROT. 


159 


the  chin,  and  by  the  whip  taps  upon  the 
rump.  He  will  then  walk  the  horse,  thus 
collected,  about  the  training-ground,  and 
as  the  horse  is  about  to  raise  each  fore-leg, 
he  will  give  it  a  tap  with  a  stiff  whip  on 
the  under  part  of  the  fore-arm,  checking 
the  advance  at  each  step  with  the  hand. 
In  a  short  time  the  horse  will  raise  and 
extend  the  fore-arm  at  the  tap  of  the  whip, 
making  the  exaggerated  action  of  the 
Spanish  march. 

A  rider  will  now  mount  the  horse,  and 
the  power  of  the  whip  will  be  transferred 
to  the  spur,  in  the  following  manner  : — 
As  the  trainer,  walking  by  the  side  of  the 
horse,  applies  the  whip,  the  rider  will 
press  in  the  opposite  spur  and  meet  the 
impulse  of  the  spur  with  a  tension  of  the 
rein   of  the  same  side,   to  mxake  the  mo- 


1 6b  THE    SPANISH     TROT. 

mentary  rest,  and  by  checking  that  side 
lighten  the  other. 

After  a  few  lessons  the  horse  will  make 
the  extended  step  with  each  fore-leg  at  the 
application  of  the  spur  and  hand  without 
the  whip,  provided  that  he  is  kept  very 
light  In  front. 

This  march  can  readily  be  forced  Into 
a  trot  by  increasing  the  speed  and  con- 
tinuing the  use  of  the  aids.  Two  or  three 
steps  only  at  a  time  should  at  first  be  de- 
manded at  the  trot,  and  the  horse  must  be 
kept  collected  and  light  In  hand  ;  and,  if 
necessary,  the  play  of  the  rein  may  be 
marked,  as  he  raises  the  hind-leg  of  that 
side. 

After  the  horse  has  made  a  few  steps 
in  the  Spanish  trot  he  should  be  permitted 
to  resume  his  natural  action,  and  he  should 


THE     SPANISH    TROT.  i6l 

be  rewarded  for  his  exertions  by  hand  and 
voice. 

In  time  he  should  perform  this  move- 
ment at  very  slight  indications  from  the  aids, 
the  thumb  of  the  bridle-rein  being  turned 
at  the  wrist,  towards  the  right  shoulder  or 
towards  the  horse's  ears,  as  the  right  or 
left  leg  gives  a  light  pressure  to  the  flank. 

We  must  not  in  the  Spanish  trot 
lighten  the  forehand  by  the  direct  rein, 
as  in  the  gallop,  because  there  must  not 
be  a  cross  pull  in  any  trot,  and  we  content 
ourselves  by  producing  the  momentary 
rest  with  the  rein  of  the  moving  hind-leg, 
and  by  checking  that  side  give  freedom  to 
the  moving  side  of  the  forehand. 

The  Spanish  trot  is  simply  an  exag- 
gerated passage,  with  the  strides  forced 
forwards  by  increased  application  of  the 


l62  THE     SPANISH    TROT, 

aids  and  by  throwing  back  the  forces  of 
the  forehand  more  than  in  the  perfectly- 
balanced  action  of  the  passage,  which 
takes  place  under  the  horse. 

A  second  method  for  producing  the 
Spanish  step  is  very  similar  to  the  preced- 
ing, but  is  better  adapted  to  nervous,  ex- 
citable horses.  In  this  second  method  the 
trainer  will  stand  in  front  of  the  horse, 
facing  him,  and,  walking  backwards,  will 
lead  the  horse  in  the  best  equilibrium  he 
can  procure  under  the  circumstances. 
With  a  very  slender  whip  he  will  touch  the 
horse  upon  the  front  of  the  forearm  as  he 
raises  each  fore-leg  in  walking.  This  will 
have  the  effect  of  making  the  horse  strike 
out,  often  to  the  peril  of  his  trainer,  with 
the  fore-leg  that  has  received  the  touch  of 
the  whip. 


THE     SPANISH    TROT.  163 

The  transfer  of  power  to  the  spurs  and 
the  subsequent  steps  in  training,  will  be 
exactly  the  same  as  described  in  the  first 
method. 

A  distinguished  school-rider,  who  gave 
me  my  first  practical  lessons  in  this  move- 
ment, made  it  his  custom  to  teach  the 
horse,  while  at  a  halt,  to  give  or  extend 
his  fore-leg  at  the  whip  taps  applied  below 
the  knee,  and  as  the  horse  raised  the  leg 
the  trainer  would  seize  and  bear  it  up  as 
high  as  he  could.  Afterwards  he  had  a 
groom  to  walk  backwards,  facing  the 
horse,  and  as  the  trainer,  walking  by  the 
side  of  the  moving  horse,  made  him  raise 
each  fore-leg  in  turn,  the  groom  caught  it 
in  his  hands  and  bore  it  up  for  a  moment, 
and  then  dropped  it  to  treat  the  other  fore- 
leg in  the  same  way. 


164  THE     SPANISH    TROT.    ' 

Even  with  the  horse  in  a  trot  have  I 
seen  that  groom  dodging  away  from  the 
excited  animal,  tut  seizing  and  lifting  the 
fore-legs  as  they  were  thrust  forward. 

The  result  of  this  work  was  the  most 
elevated  action  that  I  have  ever  seen,  and 
the  long  pause  between  each  step  in  the 
horse  so  trained  was  very  effective.  The 
power  of  the  whip  was  transferred  to  the 
spurs  by  the  usual  method.  I  hope  that 
my  old  instructor  will  not  consider  me  in- 
discreet in  explaining  how  he  produced 
the  wonderful  action  that  was  the  envy  of 
continental  riders  a  score  of  years  ago. 

This  is  the  least  difficult  to  teach  and 
to  ride  of  all  the  school  movements,  and 
is  of  the  least  importance. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

TRAVERSING   IN    THE    PASSAGE. 

When  the  horse  is  directed  to  the 
right  or  to  the  left  upon  two  parallel 
paths,  by  one  of  which  moves  the  fore- 
hand slightly  in  advance  of  the  croup 
which  follows  the  other,  he  is  said  to 
traverse. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  important  of 
the  movements  practiced  in  miKtary  rid- 
ing, and  is  useful  to  all  horsemen  in 
rendering  their  mounts  obedient  to  the 
indications  of  the  leg.  It  is  usually  per- 
formed  at    the    passage,    but    the   early 

lessons  must  be  .^iven  at  the  walk. 

[165] 


1 66        TRAVERSING    IN    THE    PASSAGE. 

If  the  horse  be  standing  across  the 
line  upon  which  he  is  to  move  (that  is, 
with  his  body  making  right-angles  to  that 
line),  he  will  be  made  to  carry  his  croup 
one  step  to  the  left,  which  will  bring  him 
into  the  proper  position,  with  regard  to 
the  line  of  march,  to  traverse  towards  the 
right. 

This  position  to  the  line  of  march  is 
necessary  to  permit  his  legs  to  pass  each 
other  as  he  proceeds  sideways. 

The  rider  will  lighten  the  forehand 
with  the  right  rein,  and  induce  a  move- 
ment to  the  right  by  a  pressure  of  the  left 
heel,  his  right  leg  being  held  close  to  the 
flank  to  prevent  the  croup  going  over  too 
far,  and  to  keep  the  horse  up  to  the  line 
of  march. 

The  horse  must  be  kept  at  the  same 


TRAVERSING    IjY     THE    PASSAGE.        167 

angle  to  the  line  of  march,  and  his  head 
must  be  bent  in  the  direction  he  is  follow- 
ing, and  whenever  the  horse  loses  his 
lightness  he  must  be  brought  to  a  halt 
and  collected. 

In  the  same  manner,  right  and  left, 
aids  being  interchanged,  he  will  be  taught 
to  traverse  at  a  walk  in  the  opposite 
direction. 

When  the  horse  will  pass  to  the  right 
and  to  the  left  upon  st^'aight  lines  without 
losing  his  lightness,  he  should  be  made 
to  traverse  in  circles ;  care  being  taken 
to  keep  him,  at  each  step,  at  the  proper 
angle  to  the  point  of  the  circumference 
upon  which  he  happens  to  be. 

He  will  then  be  made  to  perform  the 
traverse  in  the  action  of  the  passage. 

The  rider  will  put  the  horse  into  the 


1 68        TRAVERSING    IN    THE    PASSAGE. 

action  of  the  passage  upon  a  direct  line, 
and  will,  upon  arriving  at  the  point  where 
he  Intends  to  begin  traversing,  keep  the 
forehand  at  the  same  rate  of  speed,  while 
he  forces  the  croup  to  take,  by  extended 
strides,  the  proper  position  to  the  line  of 
movement. 

The  action  of  the  passage  and  the 
traversing  will  be  kept  up  by  accentuated 
pressures  of  the  opposite  spur,  given  as 
the  horse  raises  the  fore-leg  of  the  side 
to  which  he  moves ;  the  inside  leg  of  the 
rider  will  be  held  close  to  the  flank  to  keep 
the  croup  in  place  and  prevent  the  horse 
falling  back  from  the  line  of  march.  The 
hand  will  lead  and  direct  the  forehand, 
and  by  the  play  of  the  direct  rein  will 
maintain  the  lightness  of  that  part  and 
carry  the  head  of  the  horse  In  the  direction 


TRAVERSING    IN     THE    PASSAGE.        169 

he  is  following.  It  will  be  observed  that 
the  rein  upon  the  same  side  with  the  act- 
ing spur  is  not  used  to  bring  about  the 
temporary  rest  at  each  stride,  as  in  the 
passage  in  direct  lines,  because  this  action 
of  that  rein  would  interfere  \\\\\\  the 
traverse  movement.  The  effect  of  the 
momentary  rest  is  accomplished  by  the 
action  of  the  outside  spur  giving  one  pair 
of  legs  greater  action  than  the  other  two 
take  in  the  alternate  strides.  The  mside 
spur,  while  keeping  up,  If  necessary,  the 
horse  to  the  line.  Is  also  used  to  prevent 
the  croup  passing  over  too  far,  but,  of 
course,  does  not  serve  to  heighten  the 
action  of  the  two  legs  It  would  act  upon 
In  the  passage  In  direct  lines ;  It  rather 
checks  them,  though  It  is  not  Intended 
that  the  inside  spur  should  take  any  part 


1^0       TRAVERSING    IN    THE    PASSAGE. 

in  producing  the  action  of  the  passage  in 
the  traverse. 

At  each  step  the  weight  of  the  horse 
is  supported  by  a  fore-leg  and  the  hind-leg 
diagonally  opposed,  while  the  other  two 
legs  are  carried  beyond  them  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  movement.  The  manner  in 
which  the  weight  is  thus  borne  permits  the 
horse  to  keep  his  balance  as  he  goes  to  the 
right  or  to  the  left,  and  avoids  the  danger 
of  tripping. 

The  experiences  of  the  rider  in  per- 
forming the  traverse  in  circles  at  the  walk, 
will  teach  him  how  to  make  the  changes 
of  direction  at  the  passage. 

But  when  it  is  desired  to  change  from 
traversing  to  the  right  or  left  to  the  left  or 
right,  the  progressive  movement  must 
cease,  in  order  that  the  horse  may  take 


TRAVERSING    IN     THE    PASSAGE, 


171 


his  position  and  balance  for  the  new  direc- 
tion. 

If  the  horse  be  traversing  at  the  walk 
he  should  be  brought  to  a  halt,  and  the 
croup  should  be  carried  over  to  the  proper 
side  for  the  change ;  but  if  the  horse  be 
traversing  at  the  passage  he  should  be 
made  to  do  a  few  steps  in  the  piaffcr  and 
the  croup  may  be  carried  over  during  its 
action.  For  it  must  be  understood  that, 
the  forehand  beinisf  in  advance  of  the 
croup,  the  horse  cannot  traverse  to  the 
opposite  side  until  these  relative  positions 
of  forehand  and  croup  are  established  for 
the  new  direction,  and  the  balance  effected 
anew. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

TRAVERSING   AT   THE  GALLOP. 

Although  the  passage  is  the  action  in 
which  traversing  may  best  be  performed, 
horses  are  brought  to  traverse  at  the  gal- 
lop, both  as  a  school  movement  and  to 
prepare  them  for  voltes  and  pirouettes. 

Of  course,  the  general  principles  for 
traversing  are  the  same  in  all  actions,  and 
it  is  only  necessary  in  the  gallop  to  take 
the  greatest  precautions  for  preserving  the 
balance  of  the  horse  in  moving  to  either 
side,  for  his  weight  is  not  then  so  evenly 

supported  as  in  the  passage. 

[172] 


TRAVERSING    AT    THE     GALLOP,        173 

The  horse  should  be  put  Into  the 
gallop  with  the  lead  on  the  side  to  which 
he  IS  to  traverse  ;  that  Is,  if  he  be  to 
traverse  to  the  rlo^ht  he  will  be  made  to 
gallop  leading  with  the  right  legs. 

When  he  arrives  at  the  point  where 
the  traversing  is  to  begin,  the  croup  will  be 
carried  over  by  the  opposite  spur,  and  the 
forehand  will  be  bent  and  conducted  by 
the  direct  rein.  The  inside  spur  must  be 
kept  close  to  guard  the  movement,  and 
between  hand  and  les^s  the  horse  must  be 
kept  at  the  proper  angle  to  the  line  of 
progress. 

As  the  croup  moves  into  the  position 
for  traversing,  the  horse  will  probably  be 
compelled  to  take  a  disconnected  stride 
with  his  hind-legs,  and  this  action  will  be 
corrected  at  the  second  stride  in  the  new 


174 


TRAVERSING    AT     THE     GALLOP. 


movement  by  bringing  up  the  croup.  In 
like  manner,  when  the  horse  is  put  into 
the  direct  line  a  false  stride  in  the  hind 
quarters  must  be  looked  for  and  corrected. 

In  turning,  the  speed  of  the  croup 
must  be  retarded  so  that  the  hind  quarters 
will  hold  their  relative  position  to  the  fore- 
hand at  every  point  of  the  line  ;  and  like- 
wise, in  traversing  in  circles,  care  must  be 
taken  to  keep  the  body  of  the  horse  at  the 
proper  angle  to  each  point  of  the  circum- 
ference. 

This  retarding  of  the  speed  of  the 
croup  will  be  governed  by  the  graduated 
pressure  of  the  outside  spur,  aided  by  the 
support,  when  necessary,  of  the  inner 
spur. 

If  the  horse  be  traversing  to  the 
right,  and  it  be  desired  to  pass  in  the  op- 


TRAVERSING    AT     THE     GALLOP.        175 

posite  direction,  the  movement  to  the 
right  must  end,  and  the  horse  must  re- 
cover his  balance  and  be  put  into  position 
to  the  line  of  the  new  direction. 

The  action  of  the  horse  does  not  cease, 
for  if  he  comes  to  a  rest  he  loses  his  licrht- 
ness ;  but  the  movement  in  the  old  direc- 
tion must  be  stopped,  and  while  the  horse 
is  still  light  and  collected  the  forehand  will 
be  carried  over  as  far  as  is  necessary  for 
the  new  order  of  affairs,  and  the  change 
of  leg  made  by  the  change  of  aids,  and  the 
horse  will  lead  off  with  the  side  towards 
which  he  is  to  traverse. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

VOLTES   AND    PIROUETTES. 

The  movement  of  traversing  In  a  circle 
is  called  a  volte,  when  the  forehand  follows 
the  outer  circumference,  and  the  croup  is 
kept  towards  the  center.  As  the  circles 
decrease  in  size  the  distance  to  be  passed 
by  the  croup  is  lessened,  and  when  the 
croup  becomes  the  pivot  about  which  the 
forehand  passes  the  volte  becomes  a  pirou- 
*  ette. 


The  smaller  the  circles  for  the  volte 

hter 
[176] 


the  lighter  must  be  the   forehand  of  the 


VOLTES    AND    PIROUETTES. 


177 


horse ;  and  In  the  pirouette  the  spurs 
must  act  strongly  in  collecting  the  forces 
of  the  croup,  while  the  hand  carries  back 
upon  the  hind  quarters  the  point  of  bal- 
ance of  the  weights  and  directs  the  move- 


is 
ment. 


The  spurs  having  collected  the  horse 
act  only  to  steady  the  croup,  and  in  the 
earlier  lessons  the  outside  spur  will  be 
used  to  bring  up  the  outside  hind-leg  as 
the  mass  moves  about  the  inner  hind-leof 
as  a  pivot. 

The  voltes  are  made  in  exactly  the 
same  manner,  and  by  the  same  means,  as 
the  changes  of  direction  in  traversing. 
The  position  of  the  body  of  the  horse, 
with  reference  to  the  angle  at  each  point 
of  the  circumference,  must  be  observed, 
and  while  the  forehand  must  be  kept  light. 


178  VOLTES    AND     PIROUETTES. 

the  croup  must  be  allowed  freedom  to 
move  upon  its  path,  until  in  the  pirouette 
it  is  fixed  by  the  forces  of  the  forehand 

If  it  be  desired  to  make  a  pirouette 
from  the  gallop,  the  stride  must  be  short- 
ened and  the  forces  collected  between  hand 
and  legs.  At  some  finished  step  of  the 
hind  quarters  the  forehand  will  be  brought 
back  to  destroy  the  forward  impetus,  and 
as  the  horse  rises  he  will  be  turned  to  the 
side  with  which  he  leads  in  the  gallop. 
But  there  must  be  a  momentary  rest,  and 
the  balance  must  be  obtained  before  the 
pirouette  is  made. 

By  a  trained  horse  in  the  hands  of  a 
skilled  rider  all  this  maybe  done  so  quick- 
ly and  so  smoothly  that  the  different  steps 
may  hardly  be  observed,  and  the  horse 
comes  to  a  rest,  is  turned,  and  put  again 


VOLTES    AND     PIROUETTES. 


179 


in  the  gallop,  as  if  by  an  almost  continuous 
movement  in  the  beat  of  the  gallop. 

But  before  the  pirouette  is  attempted 
the  horse  must  be  made  quite  perfect  in 
the  voltes,  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  first 
at  the  walk,  then  in  the  passage,  and  finally 
at  the  gallop.  In  making  the  volte  at  the 
gallop  the  horse  will  go  about  to  the  side 
with  which  he  is  leading,  the  forehand  in 
the  outside  circle,  the  croup  on  an  inner 
line. 

In  changing  from  the  volte  to  one  hand 
to  the  volte  to  the  other  hand,  the  impetus 
of  the  first  must  cease,  and  the  forces  of 
the  forehand  having  been  brought  back, 
and  the  forehand  carried  over,  the  change 
of  leg  will  be  effected,  and  the  horse, 
balanced  for  the  new  movement,  will  make 
the  volte  in  the  new  direction. 


I  So  VOLTES    AND     PIROUETTES, 

As  the  circles  of  the  volte  decrease  in 
size,  the  spurs  will  collect  more  strongly 
the  forces  of  the  croup,  and  the  hand  will 
carry  back  further  the  point  of  balance,  so 
that  the  forehand  mav  be  lio:htened. 

As  the  movement  approaches  the  pir- 
ouette the  outside  spur  will  gradually 
cease  to  aid  in  the  turning,  leaving  the 
hand  to  carry  the  balanced  mass  about  the 
pivot. 

In  the  pirouette  the  horse  takes  his 
weight  and  turns  upon  the  inner  hind-leg, 
and  the  outer  hind-leg  is  brought  up  in 
support.  That  is,  if  the  pirouette  be  to 
the  right  the  horse  will  turn  upon  the  right 
hind-leg,  and  the  left  hind-leg  will  be 
brought  up  to  help  sustain  the  weight. 

Although  traversing  and  the  voltes  pre- 
pare the  horse  for  the  pirouette,  it  is  well 


VOLTES    AND     PIROUETTES,  i8i 

to  give  him  some  lessons  peculiar  to  the 
movement,  in  the  following  manner.  Bring- 
ing the  horse  parallel  to  a  wall,  so  that  he 
may  not  move  his  hind  quarters  away  from 
his  ground,  the  rider  will,  step  by  step, 
bring  the  forehand  about  the  croup  as  a 
pivot  by  drawing  the  direct  snaffle-rein, 
and  steadying  the  horse  with  the  opposite 
rein  of  the  same  bit.  The  inside  heel  will 
be  kept  close  to  the  flank  of  the  horse,  and 
the  outer  heel  will  be  used  to  make  the 
outer  hind-leg  keep  up  to  its  place  as  the 
moving  mass  changes  its  proper  position. 
If  the  movement  be  around  to  the  left, 
the  left  snaffle-rein  will  demand  the  move- 
ment,, and  the  right  snaffle-rein  will  steady 
the  horse.  As  the  forehand  completes  the 
change,  the  right  heel  of  the  rider  will 
bring  up  the  right  hind-leg  of  the  horse. 


1 82  VOLTES     AND    PIROUETTES. 

After  the  horse  will  carry  the  forehand 
about  the  croup,  to  the  right  or  left,  with 
the  snaffle-bit,  without  the  support  of  the 
wall,  the  rider  will  bring  him  into  equilib- 
rium with  the  curb,  and  with  the  reins  of 
that  bit  held  in  one  hand  will  carry  back 
the  forces  of  the  forehand,  and  turn  that 
part,  so  lightened  and  raised,  about  the 
croup  ;  using  the  outside  spur,  if  necessary, 
to  govern  the  hind-quarters. 

Of  course,  it  rests  in  the  discretion  of 
the  rider  how  far  the  horse  shall  turn  be- 
fore he  brings  his  fore-feet  again  to  the 
ground,  and  the  activity  of  the  horse,  as 
well  as  his  balance,  must  be  taken  into 
consideration  in  performing  the  pirouettes. 
In  the  true  pirouette  the  horse  goes  about 
and  faces  the  opposite  direction,  before 
his  fore-feet  come  to  the  ground. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


TEACHING  TO    LEAP. 


My  experience  has  taught  me  to  differ 
from  those  who  think  that  a  generous 
horse  objects  to  leaping  in  cold  blood.  A 
horse  used  as  I  recommend  will  take  a 
positive  pleasure  in  doing  all  that  his  rider 
requires  of  him,  and  as  long  as  it  is  not 
carried  on  until  he  is  fatigued,  there  is 
nothing  he  likes  better  than  leaping. 

I  can  understand  how  horses  that  are 
punished  with  the  spurs  or  whip  every  time 
they  approach  a  leap,  acquire  a  horror  of 

everything  that  reminds  them  of  the  tor- 

[183] 


1 84  TEACHING     TO    LEAP. 

ture,  and  that  such  will  face  obstacles  only 
when  the  excitement  of  the  chase  has  ob- 
literated from  their  memory  all  recollec- 
tion of  the  pains  that  attend  leaping. 

So,  too,  a  horse  crippled  either  in  fore- 
feet or  in  hind  quarters,  will  naturally 
avoid  the  exertion  that  must  bring  suffer- 
ing. But  a  high-spirited  horse  does  not 
object  to  leaping  when  it  is  unattended  by 
the  pain  of  spurs  or  of  lameness. 

1  have  had  horses  that  would  leap  the 
bar  when  turned  loose  in  the  school ;  and 
this  year  1  had  a  young  mare  in  training 
that  would  leap  a  closed  umbrella  or  a 
stick  held  out  before  her. 

I  believe  that  every  horse  can  be 
brought  to  leap  willingly  and  quietly,  even 
though  throuo^h  bad  manao^ement  It  has 
acquired  the  habit  of  rushing  at  the  leaps 


TEACHING     TO    LEAP. 


185 


or  of  refusing  them.  After  a  few  lessons, 
I  have  ridden  a  horse,  that  had  always 
rushed  at  his  leaps,  over  an  obstacle,  while 
the  reins  lay  knotted  upon  his  neck  ;  and 
I  have  reason  to  believe  that  no  well- 
formed  horse,  if  properly  trained,  will  re- 
fuse a  leap  that  he  thinks  he  is  capable  of 
accomplishing. 

Setting  aside  all  considerations  of  the 
pleasure  in  riding  a  horse  that  jumps  with 
coolness  and  deliberation,  there  is  much 
greater  safety  with  such  an  animal  than 
with  one  that  springs  into  the  air  with  a 
struggle  to  alight  he  knows  not  how  or 
where. 

The  young  horse  should  first  be  taught 
to  step  over  a  leaping-bar  as  it  lies  upon 
the  ground,  when  he  is  going  to  or  return- 
ing from  the  spot  where  his  daily  lessons 


1 86  TEACHING     TO    LEAP, 

are  given.  If  the  horse  refuse  to  cross 
the  bar,  the  trainer  should  stand  upon  the 
opposite  side  at  the  length  of  the  leading- 
rein  with  his  back  to  the  horse,  and  wait 
until  the  animal  satisfies  himself  that 
there  is  nothing  sinister  intended,  and  fol- 
lows his  master  without  beinsf  uro^ed.  The 

o  o 

attention  of  the  horse  should  not  be 
drawn  to  the  object,  and  there  should  be 
no  effort  to  drive  or  to  pull  him  over  it. 

When  the  horse  will  cross  the  bar 
without  reluctance,  it  should  be  elevated 
two  or  three  inches  each  day  until  the  ani- 
■  mal  is  compelled  to  make  an  effort  to  step 
over  it.  At  this  height,  say  eighteen 
inches,  the  bar  may  be  taken  in  the  lung- 
ing circles,  and  the  horse  encourao^ed  to 
leap  it  as  he  approaches  the  bar  by  some 
word  or  sound  that  he  understands. 


TEACHING     TO    LEAP. 


187 


After  his  first  leap  on  the  lunge,  he 
should  be  stopped,  and  by  caresses  be 
given  to  understand  that  he  has  done 
well. 

In  the  early  part  of  each  general  daily 
lesson,  for  the  space  of  a  week,  he  should 
be  made  to  leap  the  bar  upon  the  lunge 
line,  at  the  same  height,  but  not  more 
than  three  or  four  times  each  day ;  and  he 
should  be  made  to  understand  after  each 
leap  that  his  effort  has  met  with  approval. 

The  bar  may  then  be  raised  by  de- 
grees, two  or  three  inches  each  day,  until 
it  is  about  three  feet  from  the  ground,  and 
the  horse  should  be  made  to  leap  it  a  few 
times  during  each  lesson. 

During  these  exercises  pieces  of 
horse-clothing  and  highly-colored  rugs, 
to   which    the   horse   has   become   accus- 


1 38  TEACHING      TO    LEAP. 

tomed,  should  be  placed  near  the  bar ; 
and,  after  the  horse  has  passed  them  in 
his  lunging  circles  without  paying  atten- 
tion to  them,  they  should  be  put  upon  the 
bar  for  him  to  leap. 

In  this  way  he  may  be  taught  to  jump 
anything  that  presents  itself,  no  matter  in 
how  questionable  a  shape  it  comes. 

But  all  this  is  simply  to  render  the 
horse  willing  to  leap.  It  still  remains  for 
him  to  be  taught  how  to  do  it  in  the  best 
manner. 

After  the  horse  will  take  the  leap  will- 
ingly upon  the  lunge-line,  the  trainer 
should  lead  him  very  quietly  up  to  the 
bar,  and  giving  him  his  head,  let  him  take 
the  leap  from  a  slow  walk.  Then  he 
should  be  stopped  as  he  is  led  up  to  the 
bar,  and  made  to  jump  from  the  halt. 


TEACHING     TO    LEAP.  189 

After  such  a  course  the  trainer  should 
stand  at  an  end  of  the  bar,  so  that  he  may 
be  able  to  detect  and  to  correct  the  faults 
the  horse  may  have  in  his  style  of  leaping. 

If  the  horse  does  not  bend  his  fore-legs 
closely  enough,  some  light  taps  with  the 
whip  upon  the  shins  as  he  rises  will  cure 
the  habit ;  and  a  few  touches  of  the  whip 
upon  the  outside  of  the  hind-legs  below 
the  hocks  will  induce  him  to  gather  his 
hind-legs  well  under  him. 

The  leading-rein  should  hold  him  well 
under  control  as  he  approaches  the  bar  at 
a  w^alk,  or  stands  ready  to  leap  ;  but  he 
should  have  full  liberty  of  his  head  as  he 
rises,  and  until  he  has  regained  his  footing 
on  the  other  side.  In  this  way  he  not 
only  learns  how  to  gather  himself  for  his 
leap,  but  he  must  alight  properly,  and  not 


IQO  TEACHING     TO    LEAP. 


on  all  four  feet  at  once,  as  he  might  do  if 
hurried  over  the  bar. 

If  the  horse  will  not  rise  for  the  stand- 
ing leap,  he  may  at  first  be  assisted  by  the 
hand  which  holds  the  leading-rein,  carry- 
ing back  the  forces  of  the  forehand,  and 
so  lightening  that  part.  But  when  no 
longer  necessary,  this  assistance  should  be 
withdrawn,  as  the  horse  should  learn  to 
depend  upon  himself  for  calculating  height 
and  distance. 

The  horse  should  not  be  ridden  over 
the  bar  until  he  has  received  these  lessons, 
and  has  been  taught  to  carry  himself  In 
equilibrium.  The  introductory  course  of 
instruction,  as  described  above,  having 
been  followed,  and  the  horse  having  been 
taught  to  collect  himself  under  the  hand 
and  legs,  the  horse  should  be  ridden  to  the 


TEACHING    TO    LEAP. 


191 


bar  at  a  brisk  walk,  and  encouraged  to 
take  a  leap  by  a  pressure  of  the  legs,  and, 
If  necessary,  a  play  of  the  bit  to  lighten 
the  forehand. 

When  he  will  take  the  leap  freely, 
without  requiring  assistance  from  the  hand, 
he  may  be  ridden  at  the  bar  in  a  slow,  col- 
lected gallop. 

In  the  leap  at  the  gallop  the  hand 
should  do  nothing  more  than  direct  the 
horse  and  maintain  the  equilibrium,  while 
the  legs  should  be  used  to  collect  the 
forces  of  the  croup  for  the  spring,  but 
there  should  be  no  prick  from  the  spur. 
If  the  horse  be  accu:tomed  to  depend 
upon  assistance  from  the  bit  in  rising  for 
the  take-off,  he  will  become  negligent,  and 
will  throw  all  the  responsibility  upon  the 
rider.     This  must  result  in  a  disaster,  for 


192 


TEACHING    TO    LEAP. 


the  horse  only  can  judge  of  his  own  capa- 
bilities, and  he  should  decide  where  to 
take  off  and  with  what  exertion. 

If  the  horse  be  in  fit  condition  to  leap, 
and  has  been  properly  schooled,  he  will 
not  require  the  spur  to  urge  him  to  his 
work,  and  Its  use  may  give  him  a  distaste 
for  jumping. 

When  the  fore-feet  of  the  leaping 
horse  have  touched  the  ground,  the  hand 
should  act  sufficiently  to  gather  the  horse 
for  exactly  the  same  speed  and  equilibrium 
as  that  in  which  he  approached  the  leap, 
ereat  care  beine  taken  not  to  harass  or 
check  him  In  his  movements. 

A  great  deal  that  Is  misleading  has 
been  written  In  the  endeavor  to  establish 
a  rule  to  be  observed  when  the  horse  falls 
in  leaping — some  would-be  authorities  ad- 


TEACHING     TO    LEAP. 


93 


vocating  the  use  of  the  reins  to  raise  the 
horse,  while  others  assert  that  any  move- 
ment upon  the  part  of  the  rider  will 
hamper  the  efforts  of  the  animal.  A 
horseman  of  experience  should  know  that 
neither  rule  will  apply  to  all  cases. 

If,  after  a  fall,  the  horse  raises  his  head 
from  the  ground  and  shows  a  determina- 
tion to  get  upon  his  feet,  any  action  upon 
the  part  of  the  rider  might  interfere  with 
his  intelligently  directed  efforts. 

But  if  the  horse  lies  with  his  head  upon 
the  ground  and  makes  no  effort,  or  if  he 
struggles  violently  in  his  panic,  he  should 
receive  assistance  from  or  be  steadied  by 
the  rider's  hand.  A  word  of  encourage- 
ment will  often  rouse  him  to  a  deliberate 
effort  if  the  fall  has  cowed  him. 

After  the  horse  will  take  his  leap  in 


194 


TEACHING     TO    LEAP. 


the  gallop  neatly  and  evenly,  he  should  be 
taught  to  take  the  standing  jump.  I  have 
put  this  the  last  in  the  mounted  lessons 
because  it  Is  the  greatest  test  and  trial  of 
the  horse's  willingness  and  temper.  I  have 
recommended  that  the  leaps  of  the 
mounted  horse  should  first  be  made  from 
a  walk  because  the  Impetus  of  even  that 
action  will  Induce  him  to  go  on  and  jump. 
If  the  first  leaps  were  taken  in  the  gallop, 
the  horse  would  be  -tempted  to  rush  at  the 
bar ;  but  by  following  the  course  I  have 
here  laid  down  the  leaping  with  delibera- 
tion becomes  a  habit  not  to  be  broken  in 
upon  even  In  the  excitement  of  rapid 
movements. 

In  the  leap  from  the  halt  the  horse 
should  be  ridden  quietly  up  to  the  bar 
and  stopped.     He  will  then  be  induced  to 


TEACHING     TO    LEAP. 


195 


rise  by  the  play  of  the  bit,  and,  after  he 
has  risen  as  high  as  is  necessary,  the  legs 
of  the  rider  should  be  pressed  In  to  the 
flanks  to  force  the  action  of  the  hind  quar- 
ters. 

The  head  of  the  horse  should  be  re- 
leased as  soon  as  he  begins  to  rise,  and  as 
the  fore-feet  touch  the  ground  the  hand 
should  gently  take  such  tension  of  the 
reins  as  shall  be  necessary  to  re-establish 
the  equilibrium. 

The  horse  should  be  accustomed  to 
take  the  standing  leaps  without  other  aid 
from  the  hand  than  the  slight  play  of  the 
rein  that  carries  back  the  forces  of  the 
forehand. 

But  in  the  leaps  from  rapid  motion  the 
hand  should  establish  the  equilibrium  be. 
fore  the  horse  approaches  the   leap,  and 


196  TEACHING     TO    LEAP. 

should  do  nothing  more  until  it  aids  in 
collecting  the  horse  after  the  fore-feet  have 
reached  the  ground  upon  the  far  side  of 
the  obstacle. 

In  riding  a  horse  at  a  broad  leap  the 
speed  must  be  great  enough  to  give  him 
the  advantage  of  the  impetus  of  his  mo- 
tion, but  the  speed  must  not  be  so  great 
as  to  prevent  him  deciding  upon  where  he 
should  take  off  and  with  what  exertion.  If 
driven  hard  at  a  broad  leap  the  horse  will 
often  become  disheartened  or  confused 
and  unable  to  control  his  powers. 

A  horse  should  never  be  ridden  at  a 
high  leap  in  a  speed  that  prohibits  him  be- 
ing collected ;  and  the  horse  is  capable  of 
his  greatest  effort  in  this  direction  in  a 
very  slow,  collected  gallop. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


GENERAL   NOTES. 


A  HORSE  with  any  of  the  following  de- 
fects is  unsuitable  for  use  under  the  sad- 
dle : — A  straight  shoulder  ;  a  ewe  neck  ; 
turned-in  toes  ;  corns,  or  any  injury  or  dis- 
ease of  the  feet ;  defective  vision  ;  round 
joints,  bent  knees,  or  other  evidences  of 
weakness  in  the  legs ;  action  that  wears 
away  the  shoe  at  the  toe. 

This  list  might  be  greatly  increased, 
but  I  have  named  the  faults  that  are  com- 
mon and  most  likely  to  render  the  animal 

dangerous  to  ride.     If  the  horse  have  a 

[197] 


198 


GENERAL    NOTES. 


straight  shoulder,  turned-in  toes,  or  action 
that  wears  away  the  toe  of  the  shoe,  he 
will  not  be  sure  upon  his  feet.  If  he  have 
round  joints,  bent  knees,  or  other  signs  of 
weakness  In  the  legs,  he  will  fall  at  very 
slight  provocation.  Should  he  suffer  from 
corns  or  other  diseases  of  the  feet,  he  may 
be  apparently  sound  and  safe  In  his  action, 
and  yet  liable  to  drop  to  the  ground  as  If 
shot,  to  the  peril  of  his  rider's  neck.  With 
defective  vision  he  will  be  shy  of  passing 
unusual  objects ;  and  with  a  ewe  neck  he 
will  carry  his  nose  In  the  air  regardless  of 
treacherous  paths. 

Some  of  these  faults  may,  to  a  certain 
extent,  be  remedied  In  training,  but  natural 
defects  cannot  be  wholly  overcome,  and 
all  horses  that  have  any  of  those  men- 
tioned may  safely  be  shunned. 


GENERAL    NOTES. 


199 


A  nervous  man  cannot  hope  to  have 
any  success  with  horses.  I  do  not,  by  this, 
make  reference  to  the  well-known  fact  that 
a  horse  will  assume  the  mastery  of  a  timid 
rider,  but  I  mean  to  say  that  if  the  trainer 
is  lacking  in  the  composure  necessary  to 
establish  a  confidence  in  the  horse,  his 
labor  will  be  vain  and  the  horse  will  be- 
come shy  and  suspicious. 

The  reason  for  this  effect  upon  the 
horse  is  that  in  any  unusual  position  he  de- 
pends upon  the  man  for  encouragement, 
but  if  he  finds  that  the  rider  is  disturbed 
the  animal  will  think  that  there  is  some- 
thing wrong,  and  will  be  ready  to  take 
alarm  at  anything  that  his  quick  imagina- 
tion clothes  with  danger. 

It  is  a  common  case  for  a  rogue  of  a 
horse  to  play  the  tyrant  with  a  timid  rider, 


200  GENERAL    NOTES. 

by  making  a  pretense  of  being  frightened 
at  everything  that  can  attract  his  atten- 
tion, until  he  sometime  or  other  overdoes 
his  acted  part  and  finds  that  he  is  running 
away  in  earnest,  when  he  becomes  ter- 
ror-stricken, and  the  farce  becomes  a 
tragedy. 

Undoubtedly,  much  of  the  vice  In 
horses  has  been  cultivated  by  the  severity 
and  cruelty  of  their  masters,  and  it  is  true 
that  vice  may  often  be  cured  by  care  and 
kindness.  But  there  is  not  in  the  heart 
of  the  horse  that  true  love  for  man  that 
the  dog,  even  when  neglected  and  ill- 
treated,  ahvays  bears  for  the  one  he  ac- 
knowledges as  master. 

The  horse,  therefore,  may  not  be 
governed  by  love;  he  must  be  made  to 
feel  and  to  acknowledge  the  superior  pow- 


GENERAL    NOTES, 


201 


er  of  man.  This  superior  power  must  be 
asserted  through  kindness  and  firmness ; 
either  extreme  of  harshness  or  of  indul- 
gence will  render  the  horse  vicious,  and  de- 
stroy the  influence  of  the  man  over  the 
animal. 

It  is  astonishinof  how  much  couraee  a 
horse  will  receive  from  a  cool  and  de- 
termined rider,  but  the  boldest  horses  be- 
come timorous  at  unusual  siofhts  and  sounds 

o 

when  they  do  not  feel  the  support  of  a 
steady  hand.  In  time  the  horse  may  be 
brought  to  face  the  most  appalling  objects, 
and  his  confidence  in  man  erows  with  each 
escape  from  suspected  danger. 

But  it  is  when  this  nervous,  excitable 
animal  is  roused  by  the  stir  and  clang  of 
battle  that  he  banishes  all  fear,  and  even 
takes  a  delight    in   the  perilous  game  of 


202  GENERAL    NOTES. 

war.  With  a  spirit  that  seems  heroic,  he 
will  eagerly  plunge  into  the  thickest  of  the 
fray,  and,  unmindful  of  the  horrid  hail  of 
missiles,  bear  his  rider  to  death  or  glory. 

The  next  day,  perhaps,  he  trembles  as 
he  is  made,  unwillingly,  to  pass  the  harm- 
less body  of  some  poor  beast  lying  in  the 
battery  he  so  gallantly  charged  in  the  fight. 

All  horses  should  be  taught  to  bear 
the  spur  without  flinching.  This  will 
prove  a  great  safeguard  to  the  rider,  as 
the  horse  will  not  bolt  at  the  prick  of  the 
rowel,  and  will  be  rendered  quick  to  obey 
the  will  of  his  master. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  use  a  sharp  spur 
upon  a  schooled  horse,  as  his  training  will 
render  him  so  quick  and  ready  that  he 
will  answer  to  the  pressure  of  the  leg 
without  waitincr  for  the  severer  form  of 


GENERAL    NOTES. 


203 


the  aid,  and  a  blunt  spur  will  be  all  that  is 
required  should  he  hang  back  a  little  at 
times.  But  it  is  first  necessary  that  he 
should  submit  to  the  application  of  the 
sharp  rowel  without  either  bolting  or 
showing  resentment.  Horses  of  even  the 
most  nervous  temperament  may  be  taught 
to  submit  to' the  spur  after  a  few  lessons 
given  in  the  following  manner: — 

While  at  the  walking  pace  the  rider 
will  gently  press  his  unarmed  heels  against 
the  sides  of  the  horse,  and  restrain  in- 
creased speed  or  restlessness  by  a  light 
hand  and  soothino:  words.  When  the 
horse  will  suffer  the  pressure  of  the  heels 
without  making  an  effort  to  go  beyond 
the  limits  placed  by  the  hand,  the  rider 
will,  In  the  same  way,  accustom  the  animal 
to  the  application  of  the  spur. 


204 


GENERAL    NOTES. 


This  use  of  the  spur  renders  the  horse 
very  docile  and  steady,  and  the  sharp  spur 
may  be  superseded  by  the  blunt  rowel,  so 
that  the  aid  shall  not  have  even  the  ap- 
pearance of  cruelty. 

Many  horses  are  dangerous  to  a  spur- 
red rider  until  they  have  been  trained  to 
the  sharp  rowel  In  this  or  In  some  similar 
way.  And  no  horse  Is  under  proper  con- 
trol until  he  will  bear  the  spur  without 
trying  to  force  the  hand. 

The  spur  should  never  be  delivered  by 
a  thrust  or  kick,  but  by  carrying  back  the 
leg  until  the  rowel  touches  the  flank  of 
the  horse,  and  applied  with  such  force  as 
is  necessary  by  lowering  the  toe. 

The  spur  may  In  this  way  be  given 
with  all  required  celerity,  and  without 
throwing   the   horse   out   of  his  balance, 


GENERAL    NOTES.  205 


rousing  his  resentment  or  discomposing 
him  by  the  rudeness  of  the  attack. 

A  perfect  seat  may  only  be  obtained 
by  riding  without  reini  or  stirrups. 

Otherwise,  the  rider  will  acquire  the 
habit  of  depending,  more  or  less,  upon 
the  aid  of  bit  and  irons.  If  he  cannot 
ride  without  their  support,  he  will  be  un- 
able to  use  his  hands  and  legs  in  the 
management  of  his  steed ;  and  he  will  be 
a  clog  rather  than  a  help  to  the  horse  ;  for 
his  hand  will  check  and  harass  the  fore- 
hand, while  his  seat,  forced  by  the  weight 
he  bears  in  the  stirrups,  will  not  permit 
the  body  to  keep  the  poise  required  for 
the  balance  of  the  mass. 

I  do  not  think  that  too  much  impor- 
tance can  be  given  to  lunging  upon  the 
cavesson.     I  know  of  nothing  that  will  so 


206  GENERAL    NOTES. 

effectually  quiet  an  unruly  or  a  nervous 
animal,  and  it  greatly  improves  the  action 
and  movements  of  the  horse. 

After  the  horse  has  passed  about  the 
trainer  several  times  at  the  length  of  the 
rein,  he  should  be  induced  to  come  up  to 
the  man  to  be  caressed  and  encouraged, 
and  then  made  to  pass  about  in  the  oppo- 
site direction,  to  be  again  brought  up  to 
the  man. 

A  few  lessons  given  in  this  way  will 
give  the  most  timid  horse  a  confidence  in 
his  trainer  that  can  be  produced  by  no 
other  means  with  which  I  am  acquainted, 
and  to  obtain  the  confidence  of  the  horse 
is  the  first  and  longest  step  in  his  subju- 
gation. 

As  the  rules  I  have  laid  down  for  ob- 
taining  control   over    the    horse    should 


GENERAL    NOTES.  20/ 


prepare  the  reader  for  every  emergency, 
I  have  not  thought  it  necessary  to  cite 
particular  cases,  or  to  draw  the  attention 
from  more  Important  matters  to  the  nar- 
ration of  anecdotes  or  the  relation  of 
personal  adventure. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

WHEN    LADIES    RIDE. 

All  the  instructions  contained  In  these 
pages,  except  so  far  as  regards  those  for 
gymnastics  and  for  the  seat,  will  apply  to 
ladies,  when  the  whip  will  take  the  place 
of  the  right  leg  of  the  man. 

The  whip  should  be  strong  and 
straight,  and  the  horse  will  be  trained  to 
answer  to  Its  application  In  exactly  the 
same  way  as  to  the  pressure  of  the  man's 
leg. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  say  a  few  words 
about  the  seat.     I   have   nothing  to  sug- 

[208] 


WHEN    LADIES    RIDE. 


209 


gest  In  a  saddle  by  a  good  maker,  beyond 
advising  that  it  be  made  to  fit  the  rider, 
and  that,  in  addition  to  the  double  safety- 
stirrup,  the  leathers  should  hang  from 
spring-bars  in  the  tree,  the  bar  inclining 
upwards  from  the  front. 

The  lady  should  so  sit  upon  the  horse 
that  her  weight  will  fall  perpendicularly  to 
the  back  of  the  horse  ;  her  face  directly 
to  the  front,  her  shoulders  drawn  back, 
and  her  elbows  held  to  her  sides.  She 
will  permit  her  body,  from  the  hips  up- 
wards, to  bend  with  the  motions  of  the 
horse,  in  order  that  she  may  preserve  her 
balance.  The  reins  are  to  be  held  in  the 
manner  prescribed  for  men,  the  hand  in 
front  of  the  body,  and  in  a  line  with  the 
elbow.  The  whip  is  to  be  carried  in  the 
right  hand,   with  the   point  towards  the 


14 


210  WHEN    LADIES    RIDE. 

ground  The  horse  should  never  be 
struck  with  the  whip  upon  the  head,  neck, 
or  shoulder.  To  apply  the  aid  upon  those 
parts  will  teach  him  to  swerve,  and  render 
him  nervous  at  the  motions  of  the  rider. 
In  a  lady's  hand  the  whip  simply  takes  the 
place  of  a  spur  for  the  right  side. 

The  horns  of  the  saddle,  the  super- 
fluous one  at  the  right  being  dispensed 
with,  should  be  of  such  lengths  and  curva^ 
tures  as  will  suit  the  rider. 

The  right  leg  will  hold  the  upright 
horn  close  In  the  bend  In  the  knee,  by 
such  a  pressure  as  the  action  of  the  horse 
or  other  circumstances  will  dictate. 

The  left  foot  will  be  thrust  Into  the 
stirrup  to  the  ball  of  the  foot,  and  the 
heel  will,  as  a  rule,  be  carried  down  ;  but 
when  the  heel  Is  elevated  the  upper  part 


WHEN    LADIES    RIDE.  2II 

of  the  left  knee  should  find  support  in  the 
side-horn,  and  for  that  end  the  stirrup- 
leather  will  be  given  such  a  length  as  will 
permit  this.  By  the  grasp  given  by  the 
elevation  of  the  left  knee  from  the  stirrup 
and  the  embrace  upon  the  upright  horn 
by  the  right  leg,  the  rider  will  have  as 
strong  a  seat  as  her  strength  can  afford  ; 
and  with  a  proper  balance  she  will  not  be 
likely  to  find  a  horse  that  will  unseat  her. 
As  a  fall  of  the  horse  is  attended  with 
great  perils  to  a  lady  rider,  she  should 
never  be  mounted  upon  an  animal  whose 
legs  betray  any  weakness,  or  whose  knees 
give  evidence  of  stumbling,  or  upon  one 
that  Is  not  master  of  her  weight.  The 
lady  must  see  that,  in  turning  to  the  right 
or  left,  her  horse  leads  on  the  side  to 
which  he  bends,  and  she  should  carry  her 


212  WHEN    LADIES    RIDE. 

inside  shoulder  slightly  back  at  the  same 
time,  so  that  the  center  of  gravity  of  the 
mass  will  be  preserved.  The  leg  will  sup- 
port the  horse  in  turning  to  the  right,  the 
whip  will  give  support  in  turning  to  the 
left. 

The  lady  who  desires  to  excel  in 
horsemanship  should,  when  an  opportunity 
offers,  witness  the  performance  of  some 
school-rider  of  her  sex.  A  few  public  les- 
sons from  such  mistresses  of  the  art  as 
Mademoiselle  Guerra  or  Mademoiselle 
Elise  de  Vienney  will  be  of  very  great  ad- 
vantage. 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


Action,  loi. 

Backing,  121  ;  at  a  trot.  122  ; 
mounted  lessons  in,  124  ;  at 
a  gallop,  154. 

Balance,  36  ;  exercises  for,  45. 

BARS,  the  bare  gums  of  the 
horse  between  the  grinders 
of  the  upper  parts  of  the 
jaws  and  the  teeth  of  the 
mouth  proper. 

Bearing  on  the  hand,  58. 

BIT,  when  used  alone  de- 
notes the  curb  or  lever  bit. 

Bits,  the,  27,  89;  resistance  to, 
III  ;  in  backing,  121, 

Bolting,  78,  79. 

BRANCHES,  the  lower  arms 
of  the  curb  bit  to  which  the 
reins  are  attached. 

CADENXE,  the  beat  or  mo- 
mentary rest  that  occurs  in 
a  finished  stage  of  a  gait. 
For  instance,  in  the  gallop 


CADENCE  {continued). 
there  are  two  cadences,  one, 
when  the  two  fore-feet  come 
to  the  ground,  the  other, 
when  the  two  hind-feet 
come  to  the  ground. 

CANTLE,  the  rear  part  of  the 
saddle  that  fits  over  the 
back  of  the  horse. 

CAVESSON,  a  head-stall  fur- 
nished with  a  jointed  nose- 
band of  metal,  to  which  are 
attached  rings  for  the  lunge- 
line. 

Cavesson,  The,  lunging  upon, 
205. 

Children's  riding,  12. 

Circling,  after,  131. 

Contests,  22, 

Correcting  defects,  93. 

Correction,  22. 

Courage,  dependent  on  the 
rider,  199  ;  in  battle,  201. 

[213] 


214 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX, 


CROUP,  the  top  of  the  back 
of  the  horse  where  the 
haunches  join  the  body. 
Used  also  to  designate  the 
hind-quarters  of  the  horse. 

CURB-CHAIN,  the  chain  that 
passes  beneath   the   chin  of 
the  horse  from    the  eyes  of 
the  cheek-pieces  of  the  curb 
bit. 

Curb,  The,  description  of,  27  ; 
holding,  39,  56,  102  ;  in 
walking,  106 ;  contrasted 
with  the  snaffle,  112. 

Descents,  64,  84. 

Direction,  changes  of,  39,  54 
60,  108. 

DIRECT  Rein  or  Spur,  the 
rein  or  spur  on  the  side  to 
which  the  horse  is  bent,  or 
is  to  make  the  increased  ac 
tion. 

Dismounting,  50. 

DOUBLE-BRIDLE,  the  bri 
die  fitted  to  receive  both  the 
curb  and  the  snaffle  bits. 

Double-bridle,  56  ;  first  les 
sons,  56  ;  102. 

Education,  21. 

EQUILIBRIUM,  the  state  of 
balance  between  the  forces 
of  the  forehand,  carried  back 
by  the  bit,  and  of  the  croup 
brought  up  by  the  spurs 
The      approximate      equili- 


EQUILIBRIUM  {continued). 
brium  is  maintained  in  mo- 
tion by  the  advance  of  the 
forces  of  one  extremity,  fol- 
lowed by  those  of  the  other, 
in  a  constant  efibrt  to  estab- 
lish a  point  of  union  and 
balance. 

Equilibrium,  59,  62  ;  in  trot- 
ting, 64,  65  ;  in  leaping,  73; 
89,  90  ;  how  obtained,  94. 

Equipments,  26. 

EWE-NECK,  a  name  given 
when  a  horse  has  a  depres- 
sion in  the  neck  immediately 
in  front  of  the  withers. 

Exercises,  for  the  seat,  43;  for 
the  balance,  45;  for  the  legs 
and  feet,  47  ;  general    51. 

Falls,  in  leaping,  192  ;  causes 
of,  198. 

Faults,  77. 

Fear,  24. 

FORCES,  the  weights  and 
powers  of  either  extremity  of 
the  horse. 

FOREHAND,  that  part  of  the 
horse  in  front  of  the  saddle. 

Gallop,  The,  67  ;  position,  67  ; 
true  in,  67  ;  turning,  68  ;  to 
put  a  horse  into,  6g  ;  in 
equilibrium,  no  ;  backward, 
122  ;  after  changes  of  leg 
in,  131;  changes  in  the, 
139;  leading  in,  12,C);  false  in, 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


215 


Galop,  The  {continued). 

139  ;  disconnected  in,  139 ; 
method  of  producing,  140 ; 
in  military  riding,  141  ;  the 
old  method,  142;  changes 
in,  143;  to  halt  from,  147  ; 
148  ;  in  place,  150;  prelim- 
inaries, 151;  to  back  at,  154; 
to  move  .orvvard  at,  155  ; 
traversing  at,  172. 

General  exercises,  51. 

Getting  into  place,  31. 

Grasp,  37. 

Halting,  55;  from  a  walk,  loi, 
147 ;  from  a  trot,  147  ;  from 
a  gallop,  148. 

Hands  and  legs,  53. 

HAUTE  l:COLE,  LA,  the 
high  school  of  riding  in  the 
movements  of  the  manege. 

HIND-QUARTERS,  that  part 
of  the  horse  behind  the  sad- 
dle. 

Horse  gymnastics,  42, 

Horses,  how  to  use,  21. 

Kicking,  32. 

Ladies,  instructions  for,  208  ; 
whip,  208;  saddle,  209;  stir- 
rup, 209  ;  seat,  209  ;  use  of 
whip,  210  ;  saddle  for,  210  ; 
horses  for,  211  ;  position  in 
turning,  211  ;  lessons  for, 
212. 

Leap,  The,  72  ;  standing, 
72;  flying,  73  ;  speed,  when 


Leap,  The  {continued). 

approaching,  76 ;  teaching, 
183;  causes  for  objecting  to, 
183  ;  leaping  willingly,  184  ; 
with  deliberation,  185  ;  first 
lessons  in,  185  ;  teaching 
how  to  leap,  188 ;  at  the 
gallop,  191;  falls  in  leaping, 
192  ;  standing,  194  ;  broad, 
196  ;  high,  196. 

Legs  and  Feet,  exercises  for, 
47  ;  53  ;  use  of,  in  pirouettes, 
117. 

Lifting  the  horse,  73. 

LUNGE-LINE,  the  rein  or 
cord  fastened  to  the  nose- 
band of  the  cavesson,  by 
which  the  trainer  on  foot  di- 
rects the  horse  in  circles 
about  him. 

LUNGING,  exercising  the 
horse  in  circles  about  the 
trainer  by  the  lunge-line. 

Lunging  upon  the  cavesson^ 
205. 

MANEGE,  the  riding  school. 
Also,  the  system  of  horse- 
manship followed  in  the 
schools. 

Martingales,  27 ;  advantages 
and  disadvantages  of,  29. 

Mounting,  method,  31  ;  disad- 
vantages of  usual  method, 
33  ;  48. 

Movements  in  place,  after,  131, 


2l6 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


Movements,  quietness  in,  137. 

Nervousness,  199. 

Obedience,  61. 

Obstinacy,  23,  104. 

OPPOSITE  Rein  or  Spur,  the 
rein  or. spur  opposite  to  the 
side  to  which  the  horse  is 
bent,  or  is  to  make  the  in- 
creased action. 

PASSAGE,  a  trot  in  which 
the  legs  diagonally  disposed 
step  together,  in  an  action 
not  so  high  as  the  Spanish 
step. 

Passage,  The,  127 ;  method  of 
producing,  128  ;  traversing 
in,  165  ;  method  of  travers- 
ing in,  165. 

PATHS,  the  lines  followed 
by  the  feet  of  the  horse  in 
any  movement. 

Pawing,  33. 

Piaffer,  The,  132  ;  teaching, 
132  ;  its  use,  133  ;  its  diffi 
culty,  133  ;  to  back  at,  136 ; 
means  for  producing  the 
movement,  136. 

PIROUETTE,  the  movement 
in  which  the  horse,  support- 
ing himself  upon  the  hind 
legs,  turns  about,  the  inner 
hind-leg  acting  as  the  pivot. 
When  the  horse  carries  the 
croup  about  the  forehand, 
the  outside   fore-leg   acting 


PIROUETTE  {continued). 
as  the  pivot,  the  movement 
is  called  the  reversed  pirou. 
ette. 

Pirouettes,  143,  172,  176;  from 
the  gallop,  178  ;  before  at- 
tempting, 179  ;  180  ;  lessons 
in,  181. 

POMMEL,  the  bow  or  front 
part  of  the  saddle,  that  fits 
over  the  withers  of  the  horse. 

PORT,  the  bend  in  the  mouth- 
piece of  the  curb-bit  made 
to  receive  the  tongue  of  the 
horse. 

Rearing,  78,  80. 

Reins,  The,  39. 

RESISTANCES,  the  opposi- 
tion that  the  rider  finds  in 
demanding  any  movement 
from  the  horse  ;  these  may 
be  active,  or  by  the  will  of 
the  horse  ;  passive,  or  due 
to  the  weights  and  conform- 
ation of  the  horse.  The 
first  are  corrected  by  the 
curb-bit  and  the  spurs,  the 
latter  by  the  snaffle  and  the 
spurs. 

Riding,  requisites  for  excel- 
lence in,  13  ;  learning  from 
books,  15  ;  personal  instruc- 
tion in,  16  ;  instructions  for 
ladies  in,  20S. 

Rising  in  the  trot,  65. 


GLOSSARY    AND    INDEX. 


217 


ROWEL,  the  sharp  wheel 
the  spur. 

Saddle  horses,  defects  in,  197  ; 
for  ladies.  211. 

Saddle,    The,    description   of, 
26  ;  for  ladies,  209. 

School    system,   The.    defense 
of,    7 :    object   of,  9 ;    objec- 
tions     to,     answered,     10  ;|Stirrups,   27  ;    short,    37 
safety  secured  by,  13.  |     ladies,  209. 


of  Spur,  The,  21  ;  governing  the 
trot,  65,  90  ;  not  an  instru- 
ment of  punishment,  105  ; 
in  pirouettes.  118;  horses 
should  be  taught  to  bear, 
202  ;  blunt,  202  ;  lessons  in 
the  use  of,  203  ;  method  of 
applying,  204. 


for 


Seat,  The,  34 ;  obtaining,  35  ; 
stability  of,  36 ;  exercises 
for,  43  ;  how  to  obtain  a  per- 
fect seat,  205  ;  a  lady's,  209. 

Severity,  uselessness  of,  104. 

Shying,  81  ;  cause  of,  198. 

Snaffle,  The,  27,    39  ;  holding, 
39  ''   53.  56,  98  :   in  walking, 
106 ;    contrasted    with 
curb,  112. 

SPANISH  TROT,   a 

which  the  legs  diagonally 
disposed  move  together  in 
very  high  and  brilliant  ac- 
tion, with  momentary  rests 
between  the  strides. 

Spanish  trot,  The,  65,  158 ; 
method  of  producing,  158  ; 
an  exaggerated  passage,  161. 

Speed,  not  decreased  by  school 
training,  10 ;  to  measure, 
54  ;  to  increase.  54  ;  55  ;  to 
increase,  61  ;  to  moderate, 
Ci  ;  to  increase,  97  ;  to 
moderate,  97.  1 


Stumbling,  63  ;  causes  of,  S3, 
198. 

Suppling  the  croup,  113. 

Suppling  the  forehand,  98. 

Trained  and  untrained  horses 
contrasted,  96. 

Training,  7,  21  ;  necessity  for, 
92  ;  remedying  defects  by 
the'     means  of,  93. 

jTRAVERSING,  the  move- 
trot  in!  ment  of  the  horse  to  either 
side,  his  fore-legs  following 
one  path,  his  hind-legs 
slightly  in  rear,  upon  a  par- 
allel path. 

Traversing,  127 ;  after,  131  ; 
143  ;  in  the  passage,  165  ; 
importance  of,  165  ;  method 
of,  166  ;  change  in,  170  ;  at 
the  gallop,  172  ;  method  of, 
173  ;   change  in,  175. 

TREAD  of  the  Stirrup,  thit 
part  upon  which  the  sole  of 
the  foot  rests. 

Tricks,  77. 


2l8 


GLOSSARY    AXD    INDEX. 


Trot,  The,  63  ;  of  the  manege, 
65  ;  Spanish,  65  ;  rising  to, 
65  ;  in  equilibrium,  no ; 
backward,  122  ;  methods  of 
producing  the  Spanish  trot, 
158. 

Vices,  77  ;  increased  by  sever- 
ity, 200. 

VOLTE,  the  movement  in 
which  the  horse  traverses  in 
a  circle,  the  croup  towards 
the  center.  When  the  fore- 
legs follow  the  inner  circle 
It  is  called  a  reversed  volte. 


Volte,  The,  172,  176  ;  method, 
177 ;  at  the  gallop,  179  ; 
changing,  179. 

Walk,  The,  63,  99  ;  instruction 
in,  106. 

Weight,  36. 

Whip,  The,  21  ;  not  an  instru- 
ment of  punishment,  105  ; 
for  ladies,  20S  ;  use  of,  by 
ladies,  210. 

WITHERS,  the  elevated  ridge 
on  the  horse's  back  at  the 
junction  of  the  neck  with 
the  body. 


mMer  Family  Library  of  Veterinaiy  I 

OmmkngB  School  of  Veterinary  Medidr^  ^ 

Tufts  University 

200  NAtesttwro  Road 


